JAMES W. MIZECoach and U.S Air Force (Ret.) James Wilson Mize passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 24, 2016, just ten weeks short of his 100^th birthday. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston, Louisiana. The services will be conducted by Rev. Juliet Spencer and assisted by Rev. Leslie Stephens. A reception will follow the Memorial service at the church. Prior to the services, a private interment will be held at Pines Memorial Gardens in Ruston.In his own words, Jim Mize discovered America on December 2, 1916 in Pemeta, Oklahoma, an early oil boomtown no longer in existence. He moved with his family to Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of six. He was a graduate of Fair Park High School in 1934, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in 1938, and Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) in 1946. Before entering military service, he coached for two years as an assistant football coach at Ruston High School and one year as head football coach at Arcadia High School where the team won the 1940 Class B (one of only two classes in the state at that time) state football championship. He then served as an Air Force pilot from 1941 to 1946 and maintained reserve status as a Lieutenant Colonel until his military retirement. While serving for twenty-five months in the Southwest Pacific theatre, he piloted over three hundred combat missions, served as commanding officer of the 70^th Squadron of the 433^rd Troop Carrier Group and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, two bronze Oak Leaf medals, and several campaign ribbons.After World War II, he was a member of the athletic staff at Louisiana Tech University from 1946 through 1977 coaching in football, track and field, and cross country. His teams and athletes won numerous championships. He was well known locally and nationally and the recipient of many honors. During his coaching career, he was fortunate to work with legendary coaches L. J. Hoss Garrett (Ruston High School) and Joe Aillet and Maxie Lambright (Louisiana Tech).He enjoyed his community involvement and his memberships in Trinity United Methodist Church, Ruston Lions Club, Ruston Veterans of Foreign Wars, Arcadia American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, Ruston Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge, and fourteen years of service on the Ruston Airport Authority.For many of his 39 years of retirement, the coach was very active, attending sporting events and pursuing his own golf game as well as traveling with his wife Minnie and socializing together with friends while dancing their way around north Louisiana. In recent years he treasured the multitude of letters, cards, phone calls and visits from numerous former athletes and friends expressing their heartfelt gratitude for the positive impact that he had on their lives and the example that he set in how to Keep those white socks moving and Handle your business right.Well known as a gentleman for all of his life, he is survived by his wife of 68 years, Minnie Ratliff Mize; a daughter, Sallie Delle Mize McKann and husband Michael of Baton Rouge; a son, James Alexander Mize and wife Tara of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren, Wade Ratliff McKann, James Matthew McKann, Katie Leigh Mize, and Alexandra Crooker Mize; two great grandchildren; and a niece and two nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Lewis Mize and Nevada Smith Mize, one brother and two sisters.Honorary pallbearers will be Bobby Aillet, Dick Ambrose, Lindsey Red Aucoin , Bobby Conville, Pat Garrett, W. A. Jones, Leo Sanford, and A. L. Williams.Memorials may be given to the Louisiana Methodist Children Home, P.O. Box 929, Ruston, La. 71270; The Jim Mize Scholarship Fund, Louisiana Tech Foundation, P.O. Box 3183, Ruston, La. 71272; or to a charity of your choice.