Baker honors Jackson Monday
Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, July 25, 2023
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It took some time and maneuvering, but State Representative Alan Baker was able to present at Joint Resolution Monday in honor of T.R. Miller Coach Ron Jackson’s induction into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
An induction ceremony was held for Jackson in March and lauded his accomplishments during his career as coach.
On Monday, Baker echoed that praise for the work Jackson has done on and off the court.
“It is my honor to recognize Coach Jackson for his outstanding career at multiple locations,” Baker said. “I’m very proud of him and his accomplishments.”
Baker said the delay in making the presentation is indicative of the way government works.
“Sometimes the wheels fall off and it takes some time to get things done,” Baker said. “Getting a House Joint Resolution passed takes 10 to 12 weeks because it has to move through the house and senate and then on to the governor.”
Baker presented the House Joint Resolution signed by all 105 members of the house, 35 members of the senate as well as the secretary of state and the governor of Alabama.
Also on hand for the presentation was Jackson’s wife, Gwen; and fellow-inductee Jamie Riggs.
Baker said that Riggs’ hiring of the honoree made it possible for Jackson to be at T.R. Miller High School leading to a successful career with 1006 wins and 35 losses in that career.
The following is a re-published article that appeared in The Brewton Standard following Jackson’s induction in March 2023:
A local legend was added to an elite list of sports figures when Ronald Jackson was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Jackson, who currently serves as the boys and girls basketball coach at T.R. Miller High School, was inducted into the HOF class of 2023 during ceremonies held at the Montgomery Convenention Center March 13.
During the event, Jackson’s rich history in sports coaching was highlighted prior to the induction ceremony. Among those joining Jackson for the celebration were Alabama State Representative Alan Baker — a former TRM coach, and Jamie Riggs, also a former coach at T.R. Miller High School.
The AHSSHOF relayed Jackson’s history in coaching:
“A graduate of Dallas County High School in 1977 and the University of Mississippi (1982) and its master’s program in 1987, Jackson, 63, was a very tall and exceptional basketball player in high school and college.
He also grew to become one of the AHSAA’s top high school basketball coaches in a career that continued in 2022. He began his coaching journey in 1985 at Monroe County High School where he led the girls’ team to the 1987 state championship. He moved to Keith High School for three seasons and in 1991 took over the T.R. Miller High School basketball program launching an incredible tenure that led to a 62-game winning streak and four girls’ state basketball titles. With his two daughters in the lineup, T.R. Miller won back-to-back state crowns in 1995 and 1996 and added two more state championships in 2002 and 2009. Jackson-coached teams have a total of five state titles and three state runner-up finishes.
He finished the 2022 season with a 733-182 girls’ coaching record – and factoring in his boys’ teams, has a combined coaching record of 1,006 wins and 335 losses.
Jackson has guided 13 teams to the AHSAA State Basketball Championships Final Four. T.R. Miller has won 13 Southwest Regional titles and most recently, played in the regional finals in 2022.
He coached in the Alabama-Mississippi Classic in 1995, 2002 and 2009.
The City of Brewton recognized Jackson’s contributions to the students at T.R. Miller and the community with a proclamation in 1996 following the win streak and back-to-back state titles. He received another proclamation last year when he recorded his 800th overall win.
He is also heavily involved in the community serving on the Senior Citizen Commissions Club, serves on Jones Memorial Freedom Church’s Deacon Board, is a Sunday School teacher and has worked on projects to provide for the homeless and underprivileged.”