Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
Great football teams have running backs they call “Mr. Inside” and “Mr. Outside.” The Southwestern track teams in the mid 1950s had “Mr. Distance” in Hall of Fame runner Mike Cody and “Mr. Field Event” in our honoree today, Bob Jackson. As Coach Freeman Marr so proudly states, “The Southwestern track and field team was recognized as one of the top programs in the South and Bob Jackson’s performance in the field events was a key to they success of our teams in the mid 1950s.”
Bob Jackson did it all for the Lynx track and field team from 1953-56. He was an outstanding thrower in the javelin, discus and shot put and an equally talented performer in the long and high jumps. He was the college record holder in the javelin with a throw of 183’10”, in the long jump with a mark of 20’6” and in the high jump with a leap of 6’2”. In a meet at Delta State, Bob won all five of the field events contested. He served as team captain of the 1956 track team.
Bob was an outstanding scorer for the Lynx in basketball. There’s no telling how many points he could have scored if the three-point line had existed during his career. Bob was Southwestern’s all-time leading scorer with 1,253 points, which still ranks in the top 10 in scoring. At 6’2” Bob was a prolific outside shooter, but he also had the size and quickness to take his man inside and score. Bob’s teammates voted him captain of the 1955-56 Lynx basketball team his senior year.
The Seidman Award is presented to the senior who achieves the most outstanding academic and athletic success. Bob Jackson was recognized at graduation in 1956 for his accomplishments on the court, track and in the classroom. We are inspired and challenged by the dedication, commitment and success Bob Jackson achieved, and Rhodes is honored to induct ROBERT HARWELL JACKSON into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 3rd day of October, 2008.
