J.I. Clements, Jr. Class of 1948, Eastern Kentucky University.
James Irwin Clements, Jr. was born November 26, 1920 in Ray City, Georgia, the son of James I. Clements and Annie May Carter. His father and uncle Joe Clements ran the family business, the Clements Sawmill .
The Clements family was among the most prominent families in Ray City. The Clements sawmill was the largest industry and largest employer in Ray City. After the Clements sold the lumber business about 1923, J.I.’s father went into the retail grocery business.
In 1940, J.I. Clements Jr. attended Norman Junior College, at Norman Park, GA, where he was engaged in student government.
Atlanta Constitution
October 12, 1940STUDENT OFFICER NAMED
NORMAN PARK, Ga., Oct 11. In a runover election yesterday, J.I. Clements Jr., of Ray City, was elected secretary-treasurer of the student body of Norman Junior College over Warren Horton of Lake Wales, Fla., runner-up, and Earl Swindel of Ray City. Doyle Rentz, Norman Park, student president, and Brown Pinkston, Tifton, vice president, already have taken over their new posts.
Brand Hall at Norman College, Norman Park, GA
On June, 8 1944 James I Clements Jr enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. At 23 years of age, he was married, five feet eight inches tall and weighed 190 pounds. He had two years of college education and was employed in the category of “Athletes, sports instructors, and sports officials.” He enlisted at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA.
After the war he returned to school, attending Eastern Kentucky University. He played on the baseball team and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education. He received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1947, and his master’s degree in 1948.
Eastern Kentucky University Baseball Team, 1949.
First Row: Left to Right–Capt. Pete Nonnemacher, Roger Parsons, Jimmy Cinnamon, Dick Scherrbaum, Mac McCarty.
Second Row: Left to Right–Lonnie Nelson, Howard Bartlett, Charles combs, Luther Wren, J. I. Clements, Jim Thompson, Coach “Turkey” Hughes, Manager Charles Spicer.
Third Row: Left to Right–Don Newsom, Ted Dunn, Ed Lewicki, Ray Giltner, Goebel Ritter, Carl Eagle, Jack Meeks.
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