FEBRUARY 18, 1941 – JULY 24, 2024
Honoring the Memory of Jim Rowland
Jim Rowland was born on February 18, 1941, in Little Rock, Arkansas to John and Allene Rowland. He grew up playing multiple sports in his beloved hometown of Little Rock. He was a football star in high school and continued his football career in college at the University of Central Arkansas. He started his coaching career in Fort Smith at Darby Junior High School, moved to Northside High School as a football assistant, and then later became the head football coach at Southside High School. He then served as Southside’s Assistant Principal, but he will be most remembered as Fort Smith Public School’s Athletic Director. He received many awards and honors, one of which was the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame Inductee. He also received the Arkansas Athletic Director of the Year, the Meritorious Service Award, the Distinguished Service Award as well as numerous other honors.
Jim loved the Lord and lived his life accordingly. He had a true passion for all sports, for competition and for mentoring those around him, but most of all he had a passion for the relationships he formed as a result of a life lived surrounded by people who shared the world of athletics.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Norma, his sister Janet Evans and husband Jerry, his son Steve and wife Jill, his son Matt and wife Jolee, and his seven grandchildren, Jackson Rowland, Landen Rowland, Connor Rowland, Hayden Rowland, Jordyn Rowland, Grace Ann Matocha, and Joe Rothwell. We will miss him so.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Fort Smith Institute for the Creative Arts.
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Jim was a Founding Board Member of CSA Fort Smith.
Please make all checks payable to Institute for the Creative Arts with the memo line reading "Jim Rowland Memorial". Checks can be mailed to
PO BOX 11881 Fort Smith, AR 72917.
A PERFORMANCE AND VISUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL
Welcome to the first Performing & Visual Arts High School in Arkansas! We combine a rigorous college prep program with pre-professional training in the arts. ICA offers programs in dance, film, music, theatre, creative writing, culinary, and visual art. Our students spend half of their school day in art classes and half of their day in academics. Professional artist-teachers work daily with the students to train, coach, and prepare each student for the next level and beyond. Not only are students becoming excellent artists, they are also building life skills such as discipline, teamwork, communication, and time management, all within a nurturing, creative, and safe environment. What is the result of all of this? This kind of school produces students who love to be there, do well in their grades, and virtually all of them graduate from high school. Many students go on to Broadway, television, film, dance, art, and other major arts fields, while some become doctors, lawyers, or corporate leaders. More information below: