James Jackson (1988) - Hall of Fame

James Jackson

Induction:
1988
Class:
1961

James H. "Jim" Jackson spent 1957-61 at Iowa State Teachers College, playing basketball from 1958-61. Nicknamed "Jumping Jim" in the 1959-60 basketball information guide, he was first in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore, breaking ISTC and North Central Conference rebound records in the process. Heading into his senior year, he had been named all-conference twice and held most ISTC and conference rebound records. He scored 622 points in two years and finished his career with 891 points for a 13.3 average.

A native of Waterloo and graduate of East High School, Jackson taught and coached football and basketball in the youth recreation programs for several years. After serving in the Iowa House of Representatives in 1965, he began his corporate career as a regional marketing representative with Pepsi-Cola and Co. Eventually, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of Pepsi's operation in Bronx, N.Y. He joined ITT Corp, in 1971 and in 1973, became vice president at Citicorp in New York. He joined Cigna Corp. in 1977 and was elevated to senior vice president of customer service. During his tenure there, he participated in Harvard University's advance management program, an intensified training program for senior executives identified as potential CEOs.