James Andrew Brakefield, M.A.

Appalachian State University

Universities and colleges--Faculty

Dr. Richard D. Howe

1987

Biographical sketches

Boone (N.C.)

https://www.geonames.org/4456703/boone.html

1980s

2000-2010

Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Health, Physical Education and Recreation James Andrew Brakefield (October 23, 1918 -), college professor and baseball and football coach, was born in Quinton, Ala­bama, the seventh of eight children of the late Andrew Jackson Brakefield and Annie Sanes Brakefield. Brakefield's father, "Jack," was a foreman in a coal mine most of his life but during his later years he leased and operated a truck mine. He grew up in Warrior, Ala­bama, and Annie Brakefield spent her early years in Columbus, Georgia. James Brakefield spent his early gram­mar school years in Harlan County, Ken­tucky; his next four years in Beckley, West Virginia; his first two years in high school in Birmingham, Alabama, and then returned to Harlan County for his last two years of high school. In high school he played football and basketball for four years, was all-conference and captain of the football team his senior year, and was graduated from Evarts High School (Harlan County), in 1937. James worked in the coal mines every summer through high school and college, primarily for his father. After loading coal on his knees all one summer in a wet coal shaft, he decided there should be an easier way to make a living. Later, after graduating from college, he never walked into another mine shaft. "Jim" Brakefield attended Centre Col­lege of Danville, Kentucky, on a football scholarship and majored in mathematics and minored in English and Spanish. He played all three years of varsity football, was all-state his junior and senior years, and captain his senior year. Brakefield earned his A.B. degree in 1941, and later his M.A. degree in physical education from William and Mary College, Virginia, in 1950. In 1939 many young men were being drafted for the war effort but the government was allowing all persons in college to gradu­ate, so Jim knew that he would join as soon as he completed his studies. In the spring of his senior year a naval officer visited the Centre College campus recruiting naval pilots. Jim's previous flight experience had consisted of a short tour over the town for some eight min­utes in a Ford tri-motor plane which he had not especially enjoyed. Be that as it may, the officer left town three hours later after having Jim sign up for the officer training program of the Naval Air Corps. He reported for active duty to the Air Station at St. Louis, Missouri, on July 15, 1941 as an aviation cadet. One month later he was sent to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he completed his flight training and was commissioned an Ensign on March 25, 1942.
Jim Brakefield's training was primar­ily in carrier-type aircraft and he was as­signed to a dive-bomber squadron on an aircraft carrier. Later, the Navy did away with all dive-bomber squadrons and he was assigned as a pilot to a torpedo squadron. His first combat stint was in the South Pacific where he served first on the aircraft carrier Suwanee (a converted tanker), and his sec­ond tour of duty was served on the Wasp (the largest class carrier in the U.S. fleet). Jim was involved in operations at Guadalcanal, Bouganville, Iwo Jima, Philippines, and the main­land of Japan. He flew 48 combat missions and was decorated with two air medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. After the end of World War II, Jim was honorably discharged on October 15, 1945, and re­turned to his home at Evarts, Kentucky. On July 10, 1944, James Brakefield married Eloise Wallace (March 12, 1922— August 27,1979). Their only child is Brenda Jean Brakefield (January 7, 1946 - ), who married Thomas Lynn Culbreth on Decem­ber 24, 1964. Thomas and Brenda Culbreth have one daughter, Lisa Lynn Culbreth (August 26, 1966 -). Jim Brakefield taught mathematics and served as head coach of football, baseball, and basketball at Evarts High School from 1946-49. His football team was undefeated and untied his last year there. Later, while a graduate student at William and Mary Col­lege, Brakefield served as a graduate assis­tant for the freshman football team which played six games and was not scored on. Also while at William and Mary College, Jim joined the Naval Air Reserve Program and flew from Norfolk Naval Air Station, Vir­ginia. He was commanding officer of an attack squadron which won the "Noel Davis Trophy," an honor that is bestowed on the best squadron in its class in the Naval Air Reserve Program. From 1950-53 Jim Brakefield served Emory and Henry College, Virginia, where he taught physical education, health education, was the intramural director, was an assistant football and basketball coach, and head baseball coach. The football team lost a total of three games during this period and the baseball team won eighty-five percent of its games. In the fall of 1953 Coach Jim Brake-field went to Wofford College in Spar­tanburg, South Carolina, as assistant profes­sor of health education, assistant football coach, and head baseball coach. While there he joined the Naval Air Reserve Flight Train­ing Program in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1954. He became squadron commander and again won the "Noel Davis Trophy" for attack squad­rons. He retired from the Naval Reserve Program in 1968 with the rank of captain. At Wofford College, Coach Brakefield won seventy percent of his baseball games, and won sixty-five percent of the football games as assistant coach. As head football coach there during 1967-71, his teams posted a 28-16 record. He won 20 consecutive games and finally lost in the National Asso­ciation of Intercollegiate Athletics' champi­onship game to Texas A & I. He was voted South Carolina college coach of the year in 1969 and 1970, and was voted District III college coach of the year in 1970. Coach James Brakefield came to Appa­lachian State University in 1971 as Associate Professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and as Head Football Coach. During his tenure at the University, the schedule was upgraded from playing a Carolinas Conference schedule to playing a Southern Conference schedule with two strong non-conference schools each year. His overall record at Appalachian was 49-50, with his best season being 1975 when the Apps went 8-3 and defeated Wake Forest University and the University of South Caro­lina. He retired as head football coach at the end of the 1979 season but continued to teach 9 hours and act as an advisor to the Chancel­lor on athletics. At the December 1979 meet­ing of the Appalachian Board of Trustees, the following resolution was passed unani­mously and placed in the permanent records of the University: WHEREAS, James A. Brakefield has served Appalachian State University with dis­tinction as Head Football Coach and member of the faculty; and WHEREAS, he has always been a man of firm conviction with the courage to stand for the right; and WHEREAS, he has uncommon wisdom linked with exceptional judgment; and WHEREAS, he is a man of dignity, integrity, and loyalty; BE IT, THEREFORE, RESOLVED that we, the Board of Trustees of Appalachian State University commend and thank him for his service and publicly express our pleasure in the knowledge that he will remain on the faculty of Appalachian State University. Coach Brakefield was inducted into the Emory and Henry College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980, and the Wofford College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. James Andrew Brakefield retired from Appalachian State University on June 30, 1984. In retirement he is perfecting his golf game, traveling, and visiting with his former colleagues and players. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal interviews. - Dr. Richard D. Howe