Montana Western, University of

Jim Corr, a native of Missoula, Mont., is a 1954 graduate of Western Montana College (WMC) with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a double major of English and fine arts, and a minor in physical education.

He was a three-sport letterman at Western, lettering in baseball, basketball and football. From the baseball diamond, he was an intimidating left-handed pitcher for the Bulldogs. From the hard court, he was known as a stingy defender with great short shot. 

In track, Corr scored points in several events that helped the Bulldogs to 1951 conference co-championship.

He was very active in other campus activities. In 1953, his senior year, he was the art editor of the Chinook yearbook. His original art decorates the 1953 Chinook from front to back cover. He also served as vice-president of M-Club and president of the Kappa Pi, the art club fraternity.

After graduation, Corr’s professional career in education began with a two-stint in White water, Mont. His next stop was a six-year teaching and coaching run in Joplin, Mont. In 1961, he earned a masters degree from the University of Montana. 

Two years later, he was back in Dillon as a teacher and coach at Beaverhead County High School (BCHS). At BCHS, he taught English and art, and coached basketball, football, golf and track. During his tenure as athletic director, he was instrumental in the design of the BW Lodge gymnasium.

In 1970, he joined the faculty of his alma mater as an art professor. He later assisted Casey Keltz as an assistant for men’s basketball. In 1979, he began six-year run (85-71) as the head women’s basketball coach. 

He retired from coaching to concentrate on teaching and his personal art career, or at least he thought so. Keltz lured him back for a few more years as his assistant. Corr taught and coached at Western for 24 years.

After retirement, he chased grandkids and golf balls and concentrated on his art. In 2015, he was inducted into the Montana Western Education Hall of Fame.

 Corr and his wife Peggy were married for over 50 years. He passed away Sept. 19, 2017. Corr’s middle son Mickey is also a member of the Bulldog Hall of Fame.