[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9370-9371]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM ROWLAND

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Fort Smith 
School District athletics director Jim Rowland who will retire in June 
after serving the school district for over half a century. Rowland's 
dedication to education and athletics in Fort Smith is nearly 
unprecedented.
  Jim Rowland has been involved in Fort Smith's school district since 
1963. He began work at Darby Junior High School as the head coach for 
track and football. In 1966, Rowland became an assistant coach to the 
football team at Northside High School and, in 1970, was named head 
coach at crosstown rival, Southside High School.

[[Page 9371]]

  After a successful coaching career, Coach Rowland moved to the 
administrative sector becoming assistant principal in 1982 at Southside 
High School. Nine years later, Coach Rowland assumed the role of 
athletics director for Fort Smith Public School District.
  Under his watch, both Northside and Southside High School won a 
combined six State championships in football--more than any other 
school district in the 7A classification.
  During Rowland's time as athletics director, he oversaw an extensive 
growth in athletics. Under his leadership, both Northside and Southside 
High school won State championships in track, volleyball, bowling, and 
golf.
  His passion helped improve athletics in Fort Smith to a level not 
seen before. In 2009, Fort Smith School Board, in a unanimous vote, 
renamed Southside High School's stadium, Jim Rowland Stadium as thank 
you for his services.
  I congratulate Coach Rowland for his outstanding achievements in 
athletics and education. I thank him for his service to the Fort Smith 
School District and the countless students he impacted, including me. I 
was on the Darby Rangers football team in eighth grade when he started 
his coaching career in Fort Smith, and I was a member of the Northside 
Grizzlies when he became an assistant coach at the high school. Coach 
Rowland was a role model and one of the most positive influences in my 
life, as well as so many others.
  His efforts to foster growth in the district and enhance athletics in 
Fort Smith have become reality. I greatly appreciate his commitment to 
the schools and athletic programs, his guidance and friendship, and I 
wish him continued success in all of his endeavors. Fort Smith is 
fortunate to have had someone with his passion and dedication to the 
schools.

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