James Robert Harrison

Published in the Dayton Daily News from 11/2/2008 - 11/3/2008

HARRISON, James Robert 76 of Troy passed away early Saturday morning, November 1, 2008 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

He was the beloved husband to his wife of 53 years, Janice (Amburgey) Harrison. Devoted father of Timothy (Patricia) and James (Kristen Wiley) Harrison II. He was a doting, loving grandfather to grandsons Jacob (Rachel Wellman), Adam (Nicole), Alex and Aric Harrison, and great grandchildren Melanie and Timmy Harrison.

He is also survived by his brothers Kenneth (Rachel) Harrison, Alva (Jasper) Harrison, both of Middletown and Corbit (Barbie) Harrison of California, along with his sister Mary Jewell Dowrey of Middletown. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Ota Belle and Esther Harrison and special friends Randy and carol Herron. He was preceded in death by his parents Alva and Mary Harrison and 9 brothers and sisters.

He was a graduate of Lemon-Monroe High School, received his B.S. degree in education from Wilmington College and his M.A. Degree in administration from Wright State University.

Jim Harrison played baseball in the Minor leagues before being drafted into the Army. He also played AA amateur baseball in Dayton. "Coach" was the only name needed to address him to most people who knew him.

He coached baseball and basketball at Kingman Local High School from 1957-1959; Lynchburg Local High School from 1959-1960; Farmersville High School from 1960-1962. He then went on to coach on to coach baseball, basketball, and football at Wayne High School from 1963-1988.While at Wayne his team won the W.O.L. Championship in: 1968, 1969, 1978, 1983, and 1985. They won the District Championship in 1977, 1984, and 1986. They won the Regional Finals in 1977.

After "retiring" he went on to coach baseball at Sinclair Community College from 1989 to the present and is the all-time winningest coach at Sinclair.

Coach Harrison received many honors in his years of coaching including: Dayton Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978, Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990, Wayne High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, and Wayne High School Baseball Field named James Harrison Field in 1989.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 from 5-8 pm in the JENNINGS FUNERAL HOME, 11900 N. Dixie Dr. Tipp City, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 10:30 am with Pastor Richard Culp officiating.

Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memorial gardens, Tipp City. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Jims memory to the Coach Jim Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund % Sinclair Community College Athletic Department, 444 W. Third St. Dayton, Oh 45402.