Wayne Jackson Collection

Collection

Identifier: SC-MS-104

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials pertaining to the career of Wayne Jackson, a broadcaster for southeastern North Carolina NBC television affiliate WECT (formerly WMFD). In particular, this collection documents three important events in Wilmington College history including the first televised basketball game in the region (that of the Virgina-Carolina Athletic Conference Junior College Basketball Tournament championship game), a dinner held for the Seahawks baseball team following their Junior College Baseball National Championship win, and the telecast of the first four-year graduation at the college. Also included are materials pertaining to the beginnings of WMFD including a log of its first day of televised programming, as well as its transition to WECT.

Material types include correspondence, photographs, programs, and ephemera dating from 1954 to 1974.

Dates

Creation: 1954-1974, 1988

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Copyright Statement

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Wayne Jackson started his television career in Wilmington in 1954 as the host of a 90-minute talk show called "Relax with Jax" on WMFD (later changed to WECT in 1958). Jackson took on many roles during his 30 years with the station, reporting on the news, weather, and sports, as well as hosting talk-shows and managing behind-the-scenes activities including programming, public relations, and general administration.

Jackson was particularly influential in sports broadcasting in the area. During his career he interviewed legendary athletes including Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Althea Gibson, Joe Louis, Sonny Jurgenson, and Roman Gabriel. He was also involved in televising local sports including high school football and basketball, college basketball, and military boxing championships. He later became the game analyst for UNC Wilmington's Seahawks Broadcast team, a position he held for nearly 14 years.

Jackson's involvement with University goes beyond broadcasting games. He was a founding board member of the UNCW Student Aid Association (known as the Seahawk Club) and assisted in forming the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's Adult Scholars Leadership Program.

Extent

2 Containers (Contains 1 document box and 1 oversize folder.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series: Wilmington College Athletics, 1961; Wilmington College Commencement Ceremony, 1965; WECT History, 1954-1974.