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Gentleman Jim gets Manteca Hall of Fame nod
GOLF6-5-9-09
Jim Brown, right, waves to the photographer while heading out to play in the recent Manteca/Lathrop Boys & Girls Club golf tournament. - photo by HIME ROMERO

FAST FACTS

• WHAT: Manteca Hall of Fame
• WHEN: Saturday, May 23
• WHERE: Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane
• WHO IS BEING INDUCTED: Tom & Gayl Wilson, arts; Nick DeGroot, agriculture; Mike Morezone, athletics; Roberto Sepulveda, at large; Mike Atherton, business; Steve DeBrum, community service; Jim Brown, education; Joel Tokheim, health care
• TICKETS: $40
• MORE INFO: 239-KIDS

Jim Brown dedicated 38 years of his life serving as a role model for students and athletes alike.

Brown is being inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009  on Saturday, May 23, at the Manteca Senior Center. Also being inducted are Tom & Gayl Wilson, arts; Mike Morezone, athletics; Roberto Sepulveda, at large; Nick DeGroot, agriculture; Steve DeBrum, community service; Mike Atherton, business; and Joel Tokheim, health care.

Tickets are $40 apiece. They are available through the Manteca/Lathrop Boys & Girls Club by calling 239-KIDS.

“As a person, Jim always conducts himself as a gentleman and treats people as such,” said retired East Union High athletic director Dino Cunial in submitting nomination papers.

Brown signed a teaching contract with the Manteca Elementary School District in 1962 and taught for three years in the seventh and eighth grades the at Golden West Elementary School. While at Golden West School he helped start the Head Start summer program. The first summer the program was held at Lincoln School, the next summer at Sequoia School, and then at Lathrop School.

In 1968, Brown transferred to Manteca High to teach in the new continuation education program. He taught in the program through 1970. He then joined the main teaching staff at Manteca High teaching math, driver’s training and health classes. He also coached football and baseball from 1971 through 1981.

Brown transferred to East Union High in 1981 to teach math, physical education, and health/first aid along with the head football coaching position. He stayed at East Union High for 17 years before retiring in 1998.

He has eight Valley Oak League championships under his belt including three as head sophomore coach at Manteca High, two as varsity assistant coach at Manteca High, and three years as head football coach at East Union High. Brown’s teams made it to five section play-offs and made it to the finals twice.

The weight room at East Union High is named “Jim C. Brown Fitness Center” in his honor.

He remains active in the California Interscholastic Federation, Manteca Parks and Recreation committees, and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.