Jim McKee 

Jim was affiliated with Kaskaskia College from 1967-1990, first as a tennis coach and always as a dedicated volunteer. Jim was very influential as a coach with many of his former players proving through their own successful tennis and business careers the impact he made on the lives he touched. A highlight of his mentoring was as coach of the 1971 Men’s Tennis Doubles team of Craig Freels and Ken Abrams, who competed successfully at state and regional tournaments before they were defeated in the National Junior College Tournament.

Jim was integral in the development of a women’s tennis program at Kaskaskia College in the early 1980s and coached Kristy Jones and Mandy Travelstead who qualified for the NJCAA Nationals as a doubles team.

He continues to volunteer his time with the men’s tennis program at Kaskaskia College, and is an active member of the Retired Teachers’ Association at Kaskaskia College. Jim and his wife, Gwyneth, are supporters of education through various scholarships for Maryville College and Kaskaskia College.