Monday, September 4, 2023

Doug Shanks, Rest in Peace

 Former Jackson Commissioner Doug Shanks passed away.  His son, Representative Fred Shanks posted the following message and pictures on Facebook. 

I wanted to let everyone know that Coach Shanks passed away peacefully this morning. We found out a month ago he had lymphoma and passed away due to complications of chemo toxicity.
My family and I can't express how much love we feel with all of the calls/text!
If you knew Coach, the word "Character" comes to mind and that would be an understatement. He lived a full life and was a bit of a Forrest Gump!
The first part of his adult life he was a politician, and I would say operated like a pirate! He started out in the early 70's as the Spokesman for the City of Jackson and shortly thereafter ran for the job of City Commissioner. Which he won and became the first Republican member of the Commission. As a Commissioner he was over the police dept, fire dept, and sanitation. He brought many African Americans on to work in the different city departments, which was unheard of during that era. The city was run so well at the time that the LAPD would come train with JPD!
He was instrumental in helping form what would become the Republican party in Mississippi, he got involved with Clarke Reed and Gil Carmichael, and became Gerald Ford's campaign manager in Mississippi. At the time the Mississippi delegation voted in a unit block but that all changed in 1976. During the '76 Republican National Convention in Kansas City, the state delegates split the vote right before the vote was due. The Mississippi delegation got into a fistfight on the convention floor and a young Haley Barbour stepped in to break it up! The nomination for president came down to the Mississippi delegation and Ford had the votes. This story was covered pretty well in 'Mississippi Politics' by Nash and Taggart, good read if you're a politico. Later Coach would make a run for Mayor of Jackson as a Republican but lost out to Dale Danks. 50 years later, I got into politics and not a day goes by that when I introduce myself and someone hears my last name, they pause and say, "are you related to Doug!!??" He left his mark!
His real passion was Baseball and he lived and breathed it till the end! He started out coaching in Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and American legion ball. He brought the Mets to Jackson while he was a commissioner and named the stadium after two of his deceased friend's Smith and Wills. He started the Jackson 96'er ball team and became a leader of young men. He sent countless men to college on scholarship through his nationwide contacts in the coaching community. Later he became the head baseball coach at Mississippi Valley State University, becoming the first white coach (of the big 3) in the SWAC. The baseball field had been condemned by the city when he got there, and by the time he left he had built them a real stadium! He never hung up his cleats, he continued coaching high school ball and most recently was helping coach at Hartfield academy.
In his desk we found a list of pallbearers that was handwritten like a baseball Line-Up!! He will be missed! He loved all of you even the ones that went to Ole Miss!

 









 

11 comments:

Former sportswriter said...

Definitely one of the good ones who served the city and secured minor league baseball for Jackson. We will miss you Coach Shanks! We will miss you as you continue to round the bases in heaven!

Clay Edwards said...

We lost a giant today, man could Jackson use a Doug Shanks today!!

Anonymous said...

Mr. Shanks and family lived a few doors down from us in the 1970's when he was a Jackson City Commissioner. In 1977, a few weeks before he left office every street in the neighborhood was paved. Thank God!

Because 2 different street culverts collapsed about 8 years ago, and Atmos replaced a gas line under the road about 3 years ago. The city did install new pipe culverts, then put limestone gravel to cover all 3 of the trenches, and we haven't seen them since. Maybe we can get Henifin to be in charge of street maintenance, too.

Anonymous said...

Doug was my boss when i worked in the Public Relations Dept of the City of Jackson the summers of 1971
I remember we went to see the movie “The Candidate” together at the Lamar Theatre. He copied the colors for his run for Commissioner. He was a great friend and boss.

Bill Dees said...

Didn't Doug spend his early years in Gulfport? (I think) I remember playing Little League baseball against him in the 1950s. You could see the talent for, and love of, the game even then.

Anonymous said...

I met Doug when he was at MVSU. He took an impossible job and made the most of it without complaining. His smile was real and he could be trusted.
RIP Coach Shanks.

A JSU alum.

Anonymous said...

I met him when he was at MVSU and was impressed with the way he ran that program. I wasn’t even aware of his accomplishments outside of baseball. Great man who lived a full life.

Anonymous said...

8:42
Bill, yessir he grew up in Gulfport until his dad (ATF officer) transferred to Jackson.

Anonymous said...

Coach Shanks was a great guy, and local historian..

Bill Dees said...

@4:38 PM Doug and I went to different schools, but I always admired his dedication to baseball.

Anonymous said...

He was a good guy and coach! He LOVED the police and fire departments.
I was a member of the Jackson Police Dept. from 1969 through 1989. The story that LAPD came to train under JPD floated around for years. It never happened.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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