Jim Buckley

Jim Buckley was born September 20, 1934, in Saginaw. He found his love for the game of golf at a young age, caddying for three years at Saginaw Country Club. Buckley attended Arthur Hill High School where he graduated in 1952. He would go on to play both basketball and golf at Bay City Junior College, graduating in 1954. Buckley worked various jobs, including shoe and clothing salesman at various local stores, and as a construction laborer. He graduated from Central Michigan College in 1958, and a year later earned a secondary education certificate from newly-named Central Michigan University. While at CMU, he worked as a part-time reporter at the Saginaw News and for the Saginaw Recreation Department. He continued to write on a part-time basis while teaching for two years at Saginaw High School. Buckley was offered a full-time job at The News in 1961 by then-Sports Editor Joe Hart. In 1971, he became sports editor. “The Ol’ Buckaroo,” his nickname while working for the daily newspaper, hired a number of sports reporters who would go on to work at The News for decades. He served as president of the Arthur Hill Letterwinner’s Association in 1975, and was instrumental in helping run the annual Saginaw District Golf Tournament. Buckley retired April 1, 1996, after a splendid 35-year career covering sports for The News. He was an original board member of the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame which debuted in 2002, and served as secretary and golf outing chairman. In October, Buckley was recognized by the Arthur Hill Letterwinner’s Association as its Special Inductee recipient.