Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
James Rima, a 1957 Centennial Class graduate, has compiled a 31-year basketball coaching career record of 381-184 (winning pct., 67 percent), a 22-year baseball record of 394-201 (69 percent) and golf record of 206-137 (60 percent). All of these were at the varsity level.
The Postville native and high school graduate was a four-year letterman on the Peacock baseball team, team captain, Second Team All-Conference for one season and First Team All-Conference pitcher the next year (1957). He is one of two UIU pitchers to win two games in one day (his wins were against Central College).
Following graduation from Upper Iowa, Rima taught for 30 years and coached for 31: at Dawson High School, Dawson (’57-’58); St. Pat’s High School, Perry (’58-’61); Ossian DeSales High School, Ossian (’61-’65); Solon High School, solon (’65-’69); Union High School, Biggsville, Ill. (’69-’76); New Hampton High School, New Hampton (’76-’86) and Westmer High School, Joy, Ill. (’87-’88). He has been involved with youth athletic programs the last 40 years and is currently a restaurant owner and operator in Oquawka, Ill.
Through the years, Rima played professional baseball on the Orioles minor league team and with amateur teams in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin until the age of 50, when he pitched his last game in the Iowa Amateur Baseball Congress in the state tournament. He and his wife, Elaine, have four children, Craig, Cathy, Judd and Julie.
