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Obituary – Death – Cause of death News : Jim Vaughan, a legendary coach and mentor, passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a lasting impact on the Springfield sports community. Vaughan spent over five decades coaching track and field at Hillcrest High School, where he also served as an assistant football coach. In addition to coaching, Vaughan also made a name for himself as a basketball referee, calling games for 37 years.
Originally from Clifty, Arkansas, Vaughan began his coaching career at Goodman High School before moving on to Golden City, where he led the school to a state championship in track and field. In 1963, Vaughan and his wife Rita made their way to Hillcrest, where he continued to coach and mentor athletes until his semi-retirement in 2013.
Vaughan’s impact extended beyond the playing field, as he was known for his ability to connect with and mentor his players. Former athletes, coaches, and colleagues speak highly of Vaughan’s coaching prowess and his dedication to helping others succeed. Vaughan’s influence was felt not only in the sports world but also in the lives of those he touched.
In addition to his coaching career, Vaughan was also recognized for his contributions to the local sports community, being inducted into several sports halls of fame. His commitment to staying in touch with former student-athletes and his passion for helping others reach their full potential are just a few examples of the lasting legacy he leaves behind. Jim Vaughan will be remembered as a coach, mentor, and friend to many in the Springfield area. Jim Vaughan, a beloved figure in the Springfield sports community, passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a lasting legacy as both a coach and a referee. Vaughan’s officiating career flourished as he became one of the top referees in the area, presiding over district and state championship games multiple times. His dedication to the craft was evident as he set records by whistling 162 games in the Greenwood Blue & Gold Tournament and calling the prestigious Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions 16 times.
Despite his initial plans to only officiate a few games a week, Vaughan’s passion for the sport led him to hundreds of games, where he focused on consistency and fairness. Coaches appreciated his unwavering commitment to making calls consistently, knowing they could trust his judgment on the court. Vaughan’s deep love for baseball was also apparent, as he often spoke fondly of his cousin, Arky Vaughan, a Baseball Hall of Famer.
Vaughan’s impact extended beyond the playing field, as he touched the lives of many individuals in the community. His dedication to coaching and officiating left a lasting impression on those around him, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and character development in sports. Vaughan’s family, including his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, now carry on his legacy of passion and dedication to the game.
Services for Jim Vaughan are scheduled for October 19, with visitation at Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home followed by graveside services at Maple Park Cemetery. Vaughan’s memory lives on in the hearts of those he inspired and mentored throughout his illustrious career in sports.
Hillcrest coach, hall of fame referee Jim Vaughan dies at 93
But it turned into much more than that, as he became a respected and well-known official in the area.
“It was amazing to me how he did it,” Keltner said. “He had a way of talking to kids, even when he was officiating. He was always getting on them, but he did it in a way that they respected. He was always fair and honest. He was the same way in coaching, and he carried that over into officiating.”
Former Hillcrest boys’ basketball coach John Schaefer said Vaughan’s presence on the court was always a comforting one.
“He was such a calming influence during games,” Schaefer said. “You knew you were going to get a fair game with him officiating. And he was just so knowledgeable about the game. He knew the rules inside and out.”
Vaughan’s impact on the Springfield sports community was undeniable, and his legacy will be felt for years to come.
“He was a true legend in Springfield sports,” Fisher said. “His influence will be felt for generations. He touched so many lives and made a lasting impact on the community. He truly was a one-of-a-kind coach and mentor.”
What made Jim Vaughan stand out in the Springfield sports community?
It became much more, as he became one of the premier refs in the area, calling district and state championship games multiple times. He whistled a record 162 games in the Greenwood Blue & Gold Tournament and called the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions 16 times.
According to a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame story for his 2020 induction for officiating, Vaughan laughed that he intended to call a couple of games a week and “that few games turned into hundreds.”
“I would read over rule books and case books (game situations) on nights I didn’t have a game,” Vaughan said. “I prided myself on trying to be very consistent. I wanted to officiate the last minute of the game the same way as the first minute.
“You’d have coaches say, ‘If you’re consistent in your calls, we’ll adjust to you,’” Vaughan added.
What was Jim Vaughan’s connection to baseball?
Jim Vaughan made an impact on the Springfield-area sports scene through his work as a coach and an official. (Photo by the Vaughan Family)
Davis noted that Vaughan had a deep love for baseball and often talked about the sport. Jim’s cousin, Arky Vaughan, was a Baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers. Arky Vaughan died in 1952, shortly after retirement, in a boating accident.
“They were a little bit apart in age, but dad often said how much he and Arky talked about baseball,” Shane Vaughan said. “They were part of the Clifty Clan.”
Like his cousin, Jim Vaughan made a Hall of Fame impact on those around him. Fisher summed it up nicely, recalling a conversation he and Vaughan had following a just-concluded track and field season.
“We were sitting in the office one day and I said ‘Coach, what kind of a season did you have?’ He just looked at me and said ‘Coach, if you don’t mind, can I get back with you in 20 years and I’ll let you know?’ That had a lot of meaning,” Fisher said.
“It’s not all about winning track meets or this and that, it’s about the impact you have on kids 20 years down the road. That always stood out to me and is something I would tell young coaches to this day.”
What were Jim Vaughan’s family connections?
Vaughan is survived by his wife, Rita, of the home; his daughter, Tammy Walden of Camdenton, Missouri; his sons, James (Jamie) Vaughan of Springfield; Robert (Cheyenne) Vaughan of Billings, and Shane (Sherri) Vaughan of Ozark; his grandchildren Dillon (Tiffany) Walden of Richland, Missouri; Codi (Brandon) Shepherd of Montreal, Missouri; Catherine (Ryan) Bell-Vaughan of Springfield; Audrey Vaughan of Springfield; Nela Vaughan and Erin Vaughan of Billings, Missouri; Emma Vaughan, Hannah Vaughan, Olivia Vaughan and Eli Vaughan of Ozark, Missouri; and his great-grandchildren Landon Dolan, Laney Walden, Logan Walden, Leland Walden, Lylah Walden, Levi Walden, Sadie Shepherd, Barrett Shepherd, and Ricky Shepherd.
Visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at 2 p.m. at Maple Park Cemetery.
What was Jim Vaughan’s impact on the Springfield sports scene?
Mention the name Jim Vaughan to most anyone who grew up following Springfield sports, and there’s a pretty good chance a great conversation will ensue.
“Jim Vaughan was bigger than life,” said Mark Fisher, former director of athletics for the Springfield R-12 school system. “Everybody knew Jim, through his teaching or coaching or officiating.
“He was just one of those guys that you liked to spend time with. He was so knowledgeable. And a wonderful mentor to many, whether it was young officials or student-athletes.”
Vaughan died on Monday, Oct. 14, in Springfield at the age of 93. He spent more than five decades coaching track and field at Hillcrest High School, where he also served for many years as an assistant football coach.
In a rarity for a coach, Vaughan also made a lasting mark as a basketball referee. He called games on the hardwood for 37 years during the offseason from the sports he coached.
“A legend,” former Hillcrest baseball coach and recently retired media instructor Dave Davis said. “He influenced thousands as a coach, and as an official. I’m just one of hundreds, or thousands, of coaches he influenced.
“Talk about an encourager — and someone who had your back.”
Where did Jim Vaughan’s coaching career begin?
Along with track and field head-coaching duties, Jim Vaughan also coached several other sports over the years and officiated basketball for 37 years. (Photo by the Vaughan Family)
The native of Clifty, Arkansas — a small town east of Rogers that’s now an unincorporated dot on the map in Madison County — was a 1949 graduate of Rogers High and Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he played basketball. Vaughan served in the Army from 1953-55 and, after his discharge, began his coaching career at Goodman High School in the southwest corner of Missouri.
Vaughan coached boys’ basketball, baseball and girls’ volleyball — even though he had never seen a volleyball match.
Jim Vaughan had a long and successful career as a coach and educator, leaving a lasting impact on the communities he served. From his early days coaching multiple sports in Golden City to his legendary tenure at Hillcrest High School, Vaughan’s influence was felt by countless student-athletes and colleagues.
His dedication to his craft was evident in the success of his teams, such as the 1963 state championship track and field teams at Golden City. Vaughan’s ability to connect with his players on a personal level, making each individual feel valued and supported, set him apart as a coach.
Even after his retirement, Vaughan continued to stay connected with former students and athletes, showing a genuine interest in their lives and accomplishments. His impact extended beyond the playing field, as he also made a significant contribution to the local sports community through his work as a basketball official.
Jim Vaughan’s legacy as a coach, mentor, and official will be remembered and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His passion for sports and commitment to excellence served as an inspiration to generations of student-athletes, leaving a lasting imprint on the Springfield-area sports scene.
**Small-town beginnings**
Jim Vaughan, a native of Clifty, Arkansas, was a standout athlete and graduated from Rogers High School in 1949. He went on to attend Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he played basketball. After serving in the Army from 1953-55, Vaughan began his coaching career at Goodman High School in Missouri. Despite never having seen a volleyball match, he coached boys’ basketball, baseball, and girls’ volleyball. Vaughan then moved to Golden City, where he coached football, boys’ basketball, and track, and also served as the high school principal. Under Vaughan’s leadership, Golden City won the state championship in both indoor and outdoor track and field in 1963, with future Missouri Sports Hall of Famer Earl Denney leading the way.
**‘Lord, he could coach’**
In 1963, Jim Vaughan and his wife Rita made the move to Hillcrest High School, where Vaughan would leave a lasting impact on student-athletes and fellow coaches for the next five decades. Vaughan’s coaching abilities were legendary, and he was known for his expertise in multiple sports, including track and field, basketball, and football. Vaughan’s coaching prowess earned him a spot in several sports halls of fame, including the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame, and Southwest Missouri Officials Association Hall of Fame.
**Legacy and Impact**
Jim Vaughan’s impact extended beyond the athletic arena. He was a mentor to many, including young officials and student-athletes. Vaughan’s dedication to coaching and his ability to connect with others left a lasting impression on those he interacted with. His commitment to excellence and his willingness to support and encourage others set him apart as a coach and a mentor.
**Remembering Jim Vaughan**
Jim Vaughan’s legacy lives on through his family, including his wife, Rita, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His impact on the Hillcrest High School community and the Springfield sports scene will not be forgotten. As former colleagues and athletes reflect on Vaughan’s influence, it is clear that his contributions to the world of sports and education will be remembered for years to come.
If water was common sense, they were both oceans and Jim was like that.
“When he talks, you’d better listen. Lord, he could coach. It didn’t matter what sport. Anyone who played for him, his success rate was 100%. If you played for him, you got better. He did it so long and so well. I have tons of great memories personally.
“I was always in admiration for what he could do to make people better. That’s what he did. You didn’t want to let him down and, in turn, he gave all that back to you. More than you probably realized at the time.”
Staying in touch with former student-athletes was important
Jim Vaughan and former Springfield R-12 Director of Athletics Mark Fisher at a track meet at JFK Stadium approximately 20 years ago. (Photo by the Vaughan Family)
One of Vaughan’s track and field standouts at Hillcrest was Randy Thomas, who set the school’s high jump record during his career from 1976-80.
“One thing about Coach that I loved … track is an individual sport and there were a lot of balls that he’s juggling, whether it’s practice or a meet, but he was full of energy,” Thomas said. “He would go around and give his undivided attention to you for five minutes and you thought you were the greatest thing that ever was.
“The way he made you feel when you were with him, it was unmatched of anything I ever had and I played football and basketball and all the sports. He would come down to the high jump and say, ‘OK, let’s look at it. I want to look at your steps and look at your form. Hey, it looks great. Whatever you’re doing, buddy, keep it going.’”
Thomas said he, like many of Vaughan’s former student-athletes, stayed in touch with Vaughan long after their playing days.
“If I saw him at a football game, he would run me down,” Thomas said. “He would say, ‘Hey jumper, what’s going on Thomas?’ He was amazing at how he stayed in touch with you.”
Vaughan made an equal impact through officiating
Jim Vaughan was a fixture on the local sports scene as Hillcrest’s long-time track and field coach for more than five decades. (Photo by the Vaughan Family)
Keltner marveled at how Vaughan made an equal impact through his basketball officiating — which he got into only because Springfield schools had a rule that an individual could only coach two sports during the school year.
Vaughan went into calling basketball games in 1963, figuring it would be a hobby. It became much more, as he became one of the premier refs in the area, calling district and state championship games multiple times. He whistled a record 162 games in the Greenwood Blue & Gold Tournament and called the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions 16 times.
According to a Missouri Sports Hall of Fame story for his 2020 induction for officiating, Vaughan laughed that he intended to call a couple of games a week and “that few games turned into hundreds.”
“I would read over rule books and case books (game situations) on nights I didn’t have a game,” Vaughan said. “I prided myself on trying to be very consistent. I wanted to officiate the last minute of the game the same way as the first minute.
“You’d have coaches say, ‘If you’re consistent in your calls, we’ll adjust to you,’” Vaughan added.
‘Can I get back with you in 20 years and I’ll let you know?’
Jim Vaughan made an impact on the Springfield-area sports scene through his work as a coach and an official. (Photo by the Vaughan Family)
Davis noted that Vaughan had a deep love for baseball and often talked about the sport. Jim’s cousin, Arky Vaughan, was a Baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers. Arky Vaughan died in 1952, shortly after retirement, in a boating accident.
“They were a little bit apart in age, but dad often said how much he and Arky talked about baseball,” Shane Vaughan said. “They were part of the Clifty Clan.”
Like his cousin, Jim Vaughan made a Hall of Fame impact on those around him. Fisher summed it up nicely, recalling a conversation he and Vaughan had following a just-concluded track and field season.
“We were sitting in the office one day and I said ‘Coach, what kind of a season did you have?’ He just looked at me and said ‘Coach, if you don’t mind, can I get back with you in 20 years and I’ll let you know?’ That had a lot of meaning,” Fisher said.
“It’s not all about winning track meets or this and that, it’s about the impact you have on kids 20 years down the road. That always stood out to me and is something I would tell young coaches to this day.”
Services scheduled for Oct. 19
Vaughan is survived by his wife, Rita, of the home; his daughter, Tammy Walden of Camdenton, Missouri; his sons, James (Jamie) Vaughan of Springfield; Robert (Cheyenne) Vaughan of Billings, and Shane (Sherri) Vaughan of Ozark; his grandchildren Dillon (Tiffany) Walden of Richland, Missouri; Codi (Brandon) Shepherd of Montreal, Missouri; Catherine (Ryan) Bell-Vaughan of Springfield; Audrey Vaughan of Springfield; Nela Vaughan and Erin Vaughan of Billings, Missouri; Emma Vaughan, Hannah Vaughan, Olivia Vaughan and Eli Vaughan of Ozark, Missouri; and his great-grandchildren Landon Dolan, Laney Walden, Logan Walden, Leland Walden, Lylah Walden, Levi Walden, Sadie Shepherd, Barrett Shepherd, and Ricky Shepherd.
Visitation is scheduled from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at 2 p.m. at Maple Park Cemetery.
Lyndal Scranton
Lyndal Scranton is a Springfield native who has covered sports in the Ozarks for more than 35 years, witnessing nearly every big sports moment in the region during the last 50 years. The Missouri Sports Hall of Famer, Springfield Area Sports Hall of Famer and live-fire cooking enthusiast also serves as PR Director for Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri and is co-host of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. I recently came across some sad news in the sports world – Hillcrest coach and hall of fame referee, Jim Vaughan, passed away at the age of 93. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to someone who has made such a significant impact on the sports community, and Vaughan’s legacy will surely live on for years to come.
Vaughan was not only known for his coaching skills at Hillcrest, but also for his prowess as a referee. He was a staple at games, always ensuring fair play and sportsmanship on the field. His dedication to the sport was unwavering, and he was respected by players, coaches, and fans alike.
In addition to his coaching and refereeing duties, Vaughan was also a mentor to many young athletes. He took the time to pass on his knowledge and love for the game to the next generation, shaping the future of sports in the community. His impact went far beyond the wins and losses on the field – he truly cared about the well-being and development of his players.
If you want to learn more about Vaughan’s remarkable career and the impact he had on the sports community, I encourage you to reach out to Lyndal Scranton. You can contact him at Lscranton755@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @LyndalScranton. Lyndal Scranton has written extensively on Vaughan’s life and legacy, and his articles offer a detailed look at the man behind the whistle.
As we mourn the loss of Jim Vaughan, let’s remember the legacy he leaves behind. His passion for sports, his dedication to fair play, and his commitment to mentoring young athletes will not be forgotten. Rest in peace, Jim Vaughan – your contributions to the sports world will always be remembered.
