James Austin Cartwright

Coach James Austin "Jim" Cartwright, 74, well-known coach, teacher, and athletic director, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his residence on Meadowview Drive. The family will visit with friends Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. on Jim Cartwright Field in Lindsey Nelson Stadium, home field of the Central High School Lions Football Team in Maury County Park. Rev. Calvin Lunn, David Murphy, and Hardy Loyd will officiate. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided at graveside by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 1864, Columbia 38402, Hospice of the Highland Rim, 1412 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401, Columbia Central High School Football Program, 921 Lion Parkway, Columbia 38401, or Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association, 1309 Main Sail Drive, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Nashville native was the son of the late William R. Cartwright and Dorothy Wynne Cartwright. He was a graduate of DuPont High School, with letters in 3 sports and voted the faculty award as Most Outstanding Senior and best all-around athlete; Austin Peay State University, lettering in football and baseball; Western State College, with 2 letters in football and Mountaineer Award as Most Outstanding Senior in 1958, and Middle Tennessee State University. He served in the U. S. Army 41st Tank Battalion during the Korean War from 1954 to 1956 and was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. He was a long-time member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He came to Columbia in April, 1959 to join the faculty of Central High School and assumed several positions through the years including Athletic Director, head football coach, head basketball coach, head track coach, and head baseball coach. As Athletic Director, he started programs for boys and girls track, boys and girls tennis, wrestling, softball, volleyball, and golf. From 1964 - 1967, he served as Assistant Principal. At various times while at Central, he taught American History, Biology, World and Modern History, and General Business. He served in the capacity of head football coach until his retirement in 1983. Coach Cartwright then served as Executive Director of the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association from January, 1983 until August, 2006. Among his honors include Young Teacher of the Year 1959-1960; District Basketball Coach of the Year, 1961; Tennessee Football Coach of the Year, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1977; North Central Conference Football Coach of the Year, 1961, 1963; Districk Baseball Coach of the Year, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1978; induction into the TSSAA Hall of Fame, 1996; NOCAD Most Valuable Member, 2001; and Jim Cartwright Field and Jim Cartwright Drive dedicated in 2001. His numerous accomplishments include Founder of Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association, Co-founder of National Organization of State Coaches Association Directors, member of National Federation Coaches Association Board of Directors, National High School Athletic Coaches Association Board of Directors, speaker at football clinics at University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee at Martin, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Coach Cartwright coached 106 football players that went on to play college football, plus three basketball players, and two young men who played professional baseball. Nine of his former players went on to the National Football League. His teams in all sports recorded 354 wins and 174 losses. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Nancy Sue Eames Cartwright of Columbia; daughter, Karen (Barry) English of Columbia; son, Dick (Becky) Cartwright of Columbia; grandchildren, Mandy Cartwright of Murfreesboro, Kelley (Jonathan) Cartwright-Cox of Murfreesboro, Jake Cartwright of Columbia, Austin Ring of Hohenwald; great-grandson, Simon Cartwright (Jim's "best buddy") of Columbia; and sister, Sandra (Glendal) Eddins of Old Hickory. Active pallbearers are Jake Cartwright, Austin Ring, Simon Cartwright, Jonathan Cox, David Murphy, William Crowell, Jim Hopper, David England, Merle Short, Harold Park, John Elder, and Keith Richardson. Honorary pallbearers include Joe Graham, Ray Stocstill, Hardy Loyd, Terry Bailey, Glen Stewart, Ed Zaunbrecher, Coach Phillip Fulmer, Louie Thompson, Dr. Ben High and Staff, Dr. Tony Ball, James Kelly, Sonny Lee, James Ross Woody, Wilbur Davis, Manuel Young, Barry Kenny, Gerard Harlan, Billy Davis, Mike Hudson, Vance Belew, Marion Wilhoite, Larry Taft, Cindy Collins, Dr. Ben High, entire staff of Columbia Oncology, members of NOCAD, and all former players and fellow coaches. Coach Cartwright listed his major accomplishments as "being allowed to be a part of the lives of several thousand high school students over his more than thirty-five year career and being married fifty-two years to a lady, who tied with his Mother, as the two greatest women in the history of American Civilization."