James R. "Jim" McCall

James "Jim" R. McCall, affectionately known as "Coach" to generations of athletes and friends, passed peacefully at home on September 10, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was 80 years old. Born on July 24, 1945, to Lucius and Vennie McCall in the District of Columbia, Jim grew up with his sisters Marylin McGilton and Joyce McCall. Jim's life was marked by an unwavering commitment to family, faith, and the countless young lives he shaped through his calling as an educator and coach.

Jim's relationship with God deepened when he began spending his summers as a young boy at Camp Wamava, a Christian youth camp in Virginia. Camp Wamava ignited a faith that shaped a lifetime of service and devotion, and he returned virtually every summer as a camper, a counsellor, and then a 20-year director. Jim's relationship with God also fostered an intense passion for justice and equality, leading him to participate in the civil rights movement in 1960s Arkansas, where he taught and served as a pastor at the Church of Christ congregation.

For nearly four decades, Coach McCall was the heart and soul of Firebaugh High School athletics. From the school's opening in 1977 until his retirement in 2016, he led the varsity boys basketball team with passion, guiding the Eagles to four conference titles and coaching his milestone 1,000th game in 2014. Beyond basketball, he taught history and coached cross country, football, and swimming. And he returned to the court after retirement as an assistant coach at Liberty High School because mentoring young people was never just a job for him; it was a calling.

Jim found joy through his love of the outdoors and the Central Valley's running community. He was an accomplished runner and champion competitive race walker, continuing to compete well into his 70s with the same determination he brought to everything in life.

When not on the court or running across the Valley and beyond, Jim cherished traveling and hiking with his beloved wife Gwynne, spending time with his family and friends, and deepening his faith through prayer and study. He found simple pleasures in cheering for UNC Basketball, watching the Andy Griffith Show, and listening to Elvis Presley, especially the King's gospel music.

Jim's greatest legacy lives on through his loving family. He is survived by his wife, Gwynne McCall; his daughter Trudy Frost and her husband Pat, along with their children Rosemary and Nate; his daughter Lydia McCall; his step-son John Kinsey and his wife Kim Patterson, with their sons Mason and McKay; his step-daughter Jenna Henderson and her husband Trevor, with their son Theo; his step-son Tyler Kinsey and his wife Daley, with their sons Elias and Dash; his nephew Geoff McGilton and his wife Nancy, with their daughter Emily; and his nephew Randy McGilton and his wife Grace, with their children Ann-Margaret, Greg, Michael, and Randy, Jr.

Coach McCall touched countless lives through his coaching, teaching not just the fundamentals of sports but the fundamentals of life: integrity, perseverance, teamwork, and faith. His impact on the Firebaugh community and beyond is immeasurable, and his spirit will live on in every player he coached, every student he taught, and every life he touched.

The family will be holding a Celebration of Life in early November with details to follow. All who were blessed to know Coach McCall are welcome to join us as we honor his remarkable life and legacy.

In lieu of flowers, Jim's family asks that you consider donating to Camp Wamava at https://www.wamava.com/donate.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
- 2 Timothy 4:7