Gentleman Jim's Name Lives On at Stadium
Germantown, OH (July 19, 2004) A soon to be legend, former coach, athletic director, teacher, friend and overall great guy entered Germantown in the 1950-51 school year. It was then that he began teaching and coaching, basketball and baseball.
Then it happened, James Barker led his 1954-55 basketball team to the Montgomery County League title and District tournament after upsetting Brookville 53-30. The only previous Montgomery title was in 1953, a league share.
Well everyone around the area is in all probability familiar with the name Barker, but what about before he became a faculty member at Germantown High School.
Barker graduated from Wilmington College and was a navy veteran before coming to Cardinal City. He coached at Marshall, prior to becoming a coach at Germantown, where he led the team to three league titles in Highland County the first three years he coached there.
Barker had coached for many years at Germantown before becoming the athletic director and coaching at the newly consolidated Farmersville/Germantown high school, Valley View. He worked for a total of 33 years in the Germantown area from 1951 until 1981, 30 of those years at Valley View.
It was through his achievements during his career, he retired on June 5,1981, as the athletic director, that he earned him an unforgettable name. The school recognized his lifelong achievements by naming the football field after him, Barker Field, which all of Germantown and Farmersville residents are familiar with as a result of the outstanding achievements of, now athletic director and football coach, Jay Niswonger.
"He was a great individual. He was not a get in your face and yell kind of coach. He was very patient. He had a great sense of humor," said one of Barker's former player, Don Cox.
Germantown High School students, whether they were athletes or not, loved Barker because of his kindness. Barker was the type of person who cared for everyone and helped those who needed it as much as he could.
"He cared for everyone of the kids, not just the athletes. I remember him buying kids shoes so they could participate in athletics and it wasn't just the athletes he helped. I recall him buying shoes for the less fortunate students so they could participate in gym class," Ernest Riley commented.
"He was a gentleman and cared for all the kids from Germantown and Valley View high schools," Riley added.
Retired Valley View principal Bob Batten had the honor of working with Barker while he was the athletic director for Valley View high school.
"Jim and I were real close. He was the AD and he always did a good job. He was a first class guy and he always dressed the part," Batton said.
Cox also remembers the gentleman qualities Barker had.
"He was a spiffy dresser. He always looked like he stepped out of a gentleman's courts," Cox said.
Batten was a strong supporter of Barker and agreed with the decision to dedicate the football field to him.
"He was an excellent AD and person. That's one of the reasons why I pushed to have the football field named after him, Barker Stadium. All the players loved him, he was Jim," Batten commented.
"I remember the night it happened (the dedication of Barker Stadium) he got real shook up, he even cried," Batten said.
