OBITUARY
Nurtured state champs and stellar citizens during 30 years as Commissioner of Athletics for Cleveland School District
Leonard “Big Jack” Jackson was a big man. Standing 6’6”, he left a large legacy of service to the Cleveland scholastic and athletic community that will be long remembered and difficult to replicate.
In his thirty-seven years as head of Interscholastic Athletics and Student Activities for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, “The Commissioner”, as he was known, helped hundreds if not thousands of young students navigate their way through the early stages of life, helping them get on and stay on paths that guided them to success.
Jackson directed, supervised and coordinated sixteen sports in senior high schools and seven sports in K-8, and a budget of $4.25 million dollars. He leveled the playing field in terms of creating equity in the hiring of game officials and was instrumental in upgrading the District’s athletic facilities.
Jackson died peacefully on April 30 following a courageous battle with cancer.
Ted Ginn, acclaimed football coach at Glenville HS and the founder and principal of the District’s Ginn Academy, was a student at Patrick Henry Jr. High when he first met Jackson around 1970. That would have been Jackson’s first year as an educator; he taught physical education and coached some of the teams. He treated Ginn like a son, and although the two became colleagues in later years — socially, professionally, and personally — the elements of that relationship hardly varied.
“Big Jack” demanded structure, Ginn recalls. He never accepted less than the best effort you could produce. He wanted you to be proud and professional in everything you did, every aspect of your program, because he wanted to give hope to African American kids.
“He created a system for all the children in the city of Cleveland”, says Ginn. He did it because he was a city guy himself, and he loved Cleveland, the district, and all its kids.
Hilton Smith, who arrived in Cleveland from the South a year or two before Jackson got here from Florida in 1970, echoes Ginn’s recollections. Smith and Jackson used to attend high school basketball games together — East Tech was a favorite venue — in those early days. Smith, who later served five years as chairman of the Cleveland Board of Education, got to see Jackson’s devotion to his students firsthand. “He would make sure they got to visit Ohio State, Kent State, and the University of Akron because he wanted them to have that exposure. He continued to mentor them long after they graduated,” Smith says, recalling how tears of joy would come to Jackson’s eyes when students return to visit him and share their stories of success in life.
Jackson was not just about athletic success. He worked his contacts at area colleges and beyond to ensure opportunities for as many students as he could. He also leveraged his immense organizational skills on behalf of school district levies, enlisting teachers, students and parents alike, and guiding their deployment.
Jackson was also a visionary whom Ginn credits with helping to design Ginn Academy, always demanding adherence to rigorous standards, and regularly employing the N word — No! — to anything that was subpar.
“He wanted Cleveland kids and the District to be at the top, so excuses were not tolerated. … He had a big bark but a soft heart. He was a baby bear,” Ginn recalls fondly.
Chris Callender worked under Jackson in the last few years leading up to his retirement. He says Jackson was very supportive of his staff. He would tell me regularly, “God has a plan for you.” Callender says Jackson was a true leader, “passionate and sincere.”
Jackson’s dedication and personal force translated to tangible success for many schools and teams during his tenure. Cleveland high school teams won twenty-one state championships during his years as commissioner: Collinwood (9), Glenville (6), John Adams (2), John Marshall (2), James F. Rhodes (1) and East Tech (1).
Cleveland Schools CEO Eric Gordon sees Jackson’s contributions as unique.
"We are often reminded that no one is irreplaceable. But when it comes to Commissioner Jackson, that's simply not true” says Gordon. “His enormous impact on our community will be felt for generations to come and there is no one who will ever be able to do all that he has done. His half-century of service to Cleveland's kids is a legacy that will never be replaced, and all of Cleveland can be grateful for that."
Leonard Brooks Jackson was born August 13, 1946 in Jacksonville, Florida to the late Lonnie Mae Jackson and was raised by his maternal grandmother, the late Willie Ann Jackson. His Christian upbringing was fortified by the teaching of the late Bishop Wales R. Nesbitt, Sr., and his son, the late Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt, who became his Godfather. Jackson credited his upbringing for his love of serving his fellow human beings.
Jackson attended Jacksonville public schools, lettering in two sports at New Stanton HS. He entered the military after graduation, serving in the Third Infantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany. After his discharge he earned an associate degree in St. Petersburg, FL, a Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University [1967], and a master’s degree from Cleveland State [1976].
From his first assignment at Patrick Henry, Leonard moved onto Glenville HS in 1975 as head baseball and assistant basketball coach. Four years later he became head basketball coach at West Tech, his final stop before assuming his legacy role as Commissioner.
Jackson’s life was a model of exceptional performance, commitment, and loyalty. He was married for 47 years to Michelline Jackson; he was an educator for 49 years, a Mason for 50 years, and he visited 49 states [all but Alaska]. And he provided lifelong support to his daughters, regularly encouraging and celebrating their academic, professional and personal successes.
Jackson served his community as well. His volunteer work included serving as president of the Council for Economic Opportunities of Greater Cleveland; chairman of the board of trustees at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, and member of the NE Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation board of directors. He was also a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 1988, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Prince Hall Grand Lodge Ecclesiastes #120, El Hasa Temple #28 Past Imperial Potentate and Bezaleel Consistory #15, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the United Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation – Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc.
Jackson was the recipient of numerous awards. The East High Gymnasium is named after him, and he was presented a key to the city in 2005 by Mayor Jane Campbell.
Survivors include, in addition to his wife, Micheline, his daughters Lynnette Crenshaw (Lovelle) and Dr. Cheryl Johnson (Ron); two grandchildren, Carter Ryan Johnson and Chloe Renee Johnson; and a host of cousins.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in the name of Leonard Brooks Jackson to Central State University and or The Ted Ginn Foundation, 2103 Green Rd., Cleveland, OH 44121. Arrangements were entrusted to E. F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home and Crematory, where friends are encouraged to sign the guest register book and share photos and messages of hope, love and support.
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*Updated May 3, 2020 at 2350.
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