Coach John "Wimpy" Sutton: The Passing of an Era



Perkins Hotel and Bath House ca. 1940s - courtesy Beaches Museum



Coach John "Wimpy" Sutton" 1945
courtesy  family

With the recent passing of John "Wimpy" Sutton,  an era in Beaches history draws to a quiet close.  He will probably be best remembered as a man who touched the lives of  thousands of young people and in the process helped to create a uniquely positive, can-do self image for an entire generation of Beaches residents.  I cannot think of another single individual whose life, both public and private, better exemplified the way an entire community liked to see itself, and I doubt that anyone who ever met the man is likely to forget him.

To many Wimpy will be remembered for his stellar career as a science teacher or as the man who coached high school swimmers, future Olympic medal winners, or led water aerobics exercise classes for seniors.  He will also be remembered by others as a pioneer in angling techniques for king fish and tarpon, but his sphere of influence went well beyond the classroom and sports.  He seemed to have a hand in everything, and due mostly to his positive energy and personal enthusiasm, he took on a motivational role in everything he touched.  He led by example.

Perkins Ocean Front Boarding House built 1907 - courtesy Beaches Museum

 



Wimp's great grandmother
Mary E. Perkins - courtesy family


 

Wimpy's  beach pedigree on his mother's side goes back to his great grandmother, Mary E. Perkins (1856-1933) who built Perkins (ocean front) Boarding House in 1907 .  Wimpy's  grandmother, Anna Perkins (Pfeifer) Pursel (1888-1972) took over management of the Perkin's Hotel and Bath House in 1931, and in 1939 she bought her grandson a large mahogany Hawaiian surfboard, making Wimpy Jacksonville Beach's first official board surfer.  Wimpy's mother,  Ruth Pfeiffer (Sutton) was a member of the Jacksonville Beach Woman's Life Saving Corps in 1925, serving as captain in 1926.  She was credited with at least four rescues during her lifesaving career.

Wimpy's Mother, Ruth Pfeiffer (Sutton) 1925 - courtesy family



Wimpy's grandmother
Anna Perkins (Pfeiffer) Pursel
courtesy family

Wimpy's father, John Leonard Sutton (1901-1974) had also been a lifeguard.  After graduating from high school in Ocilla Georgia, he had come to Jacksonville to work on the Atlantic Coast Line Rail Road.  On weekends he sat lifeguard duty in Jacksonville Beach, and was a ten-year veteran of the American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps.  It was only natural that Wimpy would follow his parents' lead and volunteer for the Lifesaving Corps.   During the summers he worked as a life guard and at night he worked on the Boardwalk at Pee Wee's Bar, a hot dog and hamburger joint, where Wimpy earned his nickname.  In 1948 Wimpy Sutton was issued a certificate from the American National Red Cross in "recognition of services rendered" for "rescuing six men and two women from drowning at Jacksonville Beach."  In the bottom left corner of the certificate, above the printed title "Honorary Chairman" is the signature of Harry Truman.

Life saving award presented to Wimpy, 1948
(note signature bottom left} courtesy family

After a stint in the US Army, Wimpy enrolled at UF under the GI Bill, got married, and went to work for Frank A. Doggett at Fletcher High School as a 9th grade science teacher.  He assisted as a football coach and was head coach of the swimming team, which became a force to be reckoned with throughout the state.  Teams he coached racked up some astonishing records, including:  20 consecutive conference championships, an unbroken  string of 169 dual meets, 15 consecutive county and district championships, and state Class A championship two years in a row.  In 1955 Wimpy was selected by the Beaches Jaycees as Young Man of the Year.



Hall of Fame news clipping
 courtesy family

There is not enough room here to give a full account of Wimpy's personal accomplishments or to list all of the awards and acknowledgements he has received for his service to the community.  What follows is merely a highly edited summary:  He had an active role at the Beaches Aquatic Club which build a heated swimming to facilitate winter practice for the swimming team.  He taught learn-to-swim classes for children, and led exercise programs for adults and seniors.  In 1977 he was inducted into the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame.  He was active with his wife in several Beach Bop dance clubs, had a radio show and a newspaper column for sports fishermen, and served as a Deacon and an Elder in his church.  He handily won an elected seat on the Duval County School Board, helped organize the Beaches Education Foundation,  gave commencement speeches, organized health fairs, Swim-A-Thons, and sold fruit cakes for fund raisers.  He held a captain's license for commercial sport fishing charters, was honored with several testimonials, and was named "teacher and coach of the year" while at Fletcher High School.  In 2001 the school's on campus swimming pool was named for him.

 

courtesy Beaches Museum

 

Wimpy September 2014
photo by Newell

The world is full of gifted athletes, community volunteers, great teachers, motivational coaches, popular civic leaders, avid sportsmen, church deacons, and men who are devoted to their families.  The world is not full of men like Wimpy Sutton.