Hall of Fame
Coach Jim Garrison has become a legend at Chowan University, where he spent more than 50 years working in the Athletic Department.
Prior to coming to Chowan, Coach Garrison attended Gardner–Webb University in 1951 and 1952, and then transferred to Western Carolina University, where he played two seasons (1953 and 1954) for the Catamounts as a halfback. He was an All-North Conference selection, and co-captain of the 1954 team.
In 1958, he became head football coach at what was then Chowan College. He built that junior college program into a national power, winning 182 games in the process, seventh all-time among the nation's junior college coaches.
Coach Garrison developed the annual Jim Garrison Golf Tournament to raise money for the athletic department of Chowan University. He started the Murfreesboro Recreational Program, and coached little league for many years. Continuing on with supporting the community, Coach Garrison served on the Board of Education for Hertford County, Murfreesboro Rescue Squad, and was a member of the Murfreesboro Exchange Club and the local Masonic Lodge.
Over his lifetime of accomplishments, he has been inducted into five Sports Hall of Fames, which includes the National Junior College Athletic Association Sports Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Gardner-Webb Sports Hall of Fame, the Western Carolina University Sports Hall of Fame, and Chowan University Sports Hall of Fame, which now dons his name as the Chowan University “Jim Garrison” Sports Hall of Fame.
Coach Garrison was dedicated to his family, players, and Chowan University. He loved all of his former players and took great pride in all their accomplishments.
Coach Garrison passed away on April 3, 2015 and leaves behind his wife, Joyce, two daughters, one son, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
