The Front Row with MARK NELKE April 19, 2012
Technically, Jim Edom had no children who played football in Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle.
But in reality, he had hundreds.
"He really loved the players," recalled Bob Fitzgerald, longtime board member for Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle. "He used to watch the little guys in their full pads and just smile - they brought him such joy. When they became eighth-graders and had changed so much - almost men compared to just a few years ago - he loved to visit with them and their parents and watch them become young men."
Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle lost its leader last Thursday, when Jim Edom died at age 68. The funeral was Monday. Edom was president of Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle for 12 years.
"We don't know if Jim realized it or not, but Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle grew from 124 players to 650-plus during his tenure," said Speed Hull, another board member. "I don't know how many times he said, 'If we could just lock the parents behind the fence, the kids would have a great experience.'"
A DOZEN or so years ago, a board meeting was held to elect a new president for Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle.
Hull was there. Fitzgerald was there. So was Randy Howard. Jim Edom was a few minutes late to the meeting.
Naturally, they elected him president.
"Jim entered the room and was told he is the new president," Fitzgerald recalled. "I remember his first question was, 'How can we make it better?'"
Prior to Edom taking over, Coeur d'Alene Junior Tackle consisted of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders.
Edom, who was born in Eugene, Ore., coached youth football in Oregon where his son Brad played. In Coeur d’Alene, he pushed for the addition of fifth-graders to the Junior Tackle program, and that brought in another 125 or so kids.
Then he pushed for a league for third- and fourth-graders — dubbed the “Fitz” League after Bob Fitzgerald — to introduce them to tackle football in a low-key way, and that brought in another 200 players.
EDOM PUSHED for neighboring cities — such as Post Falls, Kellogg, Priest River and Spokane — to grow their youth football programs, in part to create more opportunities for area kids to play tackle football, and in part thinking the improved competition would make Coeur d’Alene’s players better.
He would coach the coaches in Coeur d’Alene Junior Tackle, and help out at coaching clinics.
“He was tireless at raising the bar and making things better,” Fitzgerald said.
Through his work with Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation, and the Coeur d’Alene School District, facilities for practice and game fields expanded under Edom’s watch.
“Now Jim is gone and we at Coeur d’Alene Junior Tackle will miss him greatly,” Fitzgerald said. “From the new third-graders who have no idea who opened the path for them to the eighth-grade players, to the players at the surrounding colleges who know that he helped them when they were in our league, I am sure I can speak for all of them.
“Thanks to Jim Edom.”
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached by phone at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.