Jefferson mourns loss of former educator, coach Jim Lockett

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jim Lockett, former Cedar Rapids Jefferson teacher and coach, died Tuesday night due to complications from esophageal cancer. He was 77.

'Jim was a teacher and a coach loved by many,' Jefferson Athletics Director Chris Deam said. 'He will be sorely missed by the Jefferson community and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.'

Lockett is survived by his wife, Judy, three children and eight grandchildren. Services will be held July 28 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

After graduating from Keokuk High School, Lockett played basketball at the University of Missouri from 1957 to 1961. Lockett returned to Iowa after graduation and taught math at Jefferson from 1967 until 1998. While teaching, Lockett coached boys' basketball and girls' tennis, the latter of which he led to a state title in 1990.

Lockett is a member of both the Teachers Hall of Fame and Coaches Hall of Fame at Jefferson.

In addition to coaching swimming at the middle school and YMCA level, Lockett continued to serve Jefferson as a public-address announcer for the boys' and girls' swimming teams through the 2015-16 school year.

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