By Laura Lee Leathers
Look up James Crockett online and you will find actor Don Johnson, who played the fictional James “Sonny” Crockett on NBC’s “Miami Vice.” This article is not about a fictional character.
Instead, it’s about James “Jim” Crockett of Madison, who prefers to write nonfiction. His latest book, “When Mississippi Schooled America in Baseball: June 2021 – June 2022,” was released in September.
“Schooled” is Jim’s fifth book, and from my arithmetic, his first book was published when he was around age 65. Let’s learn more about his life and what ignited his passion for writing.
Accountancy and the Air Force
After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Mississippi, Jim entered the Air Force in 1964. He worked in the USAF Auditor General’s Office, completed his MBA, became a Certified Public Accountant, and earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree from Mississippi State.
On June 30, 1974, three days shy of serving 10 years of active duty, he transferred to the Air Force Reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
Jim’s experiences as an accountancy professor and performing audits gave him opportunities and training in the publishing world. He has written numerous articles for professional and academic journals.
Reading and writing
When I asked Jim why he started writing, he said, “I started writing because I’m a lifetime reader. I’ve been reading everything I could get my hands on all my life.”
When you look at his book titles, you might wonder, why those subjects? But it makes sense when you learn about his background in auditing and research. Then throw in being a lifelong sports fan.
When he wrote “Operation Pretense,” it came from his interest in auditing. The book is about “a 1980s undercover investigation of corruption in county purchasing in Mississippi. The investigation resulted in felony convictions or guilty pleas involving 56 of the 410 supervisors in 26 of the state’s 82 counties.” This is from an article Jim wrote for “The Mississippi Encyclopedia.” To read more, visit https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/operation-pretense/.
The following is a list of Jim’s books, all available on Amazon:
- Hands in the Till: Embezzlement of Public Monies in Mississippi
- Operation Pretense: The FBI’s Sting on County Corruption in Mississippi
- Power, Greed, and Hubris: Judicial Bribery in Mississippi
- Rulers of the SEC: Ole Miss and Mississippi State
- When Mississippi Schooled America in Baseball: June 2021 – June 2022
The author’s bio
The first person to read Jim’s manuscripts is Dorothy, who critiques and edits where necessary. Married for 60 years and counting, Dorothy and Jim have two sons, Clint and Craig, four grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Their son Clint is author of “The Chief: Carl Madison’s Life in Football” (Sept. 6, 2022).
Jim and Dorothy are active members of First Baptist Madison. Dorothy enjoys singing, and Jim is a teacher for a Bible Fellowship group. His writing skills were used in the publication of the church’s 125-year history. Jim also volunteers with Shower Power, which provides showers and food to people experiencing homelessness in Jackson.
As an octogenarian, Jim recommends the following:
- Don’t retire unless you have something else to do.
- Stay healthy.
- Surround yourself with great people.
- Keep your mind busy.
James R. Crockett is available to speak for groups and events. Call or text him at 601-325-5266. Follow him on Facebook @james.r.crockett.5.
Laura Lee Leathers is a writer and speaker. Imagine Lois Lane, over 65, living on a farm. Her metropolis is the area of freelance writing. Her primary love interest is the Word of God. She digs for information, interviews fascinating people, offers a cup of biblical hospitali-tea, encourages, and helps others with the how-to’s of life. Visit LauraLeeLeathers.com.