John P. St. John Memorial High School
Class of 1956

(Jan. 15, 1938 —         )

As a high school student, Jim excelled in sports, earning letters in basketball, track, cross country and football. His love of sports took him to Baker University where he lettered in basketball and track, and earned all-conference recognition all four years. In addition to his athletic prowess, Jim was an academic scholarship recipient, on the Dean’s Honor Roll, member of the B-Club, and president of the senior class as well as Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in American history at Baker and then completed his master’s in public administration at the University of Kansas. His early career in Boulder, Colo., led to being named assistant, and later acting city manager of that community. Jim’s success as an entrepreneur in real estate development and as owner of manufacturing entities featuring recycled products enabled him to give back to his high school and former coach by establishing the Ralph Dennis Legacy Fund with a $150,000 gift. The fund creates an endowment that will help support Olathe North High School basketball programs.