James A. Mott

MADISON -- James A. Mott, age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday evening, June 21, 2009 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.     Jim was born in Madison on August 6, 1929 and spent his boyhood days in Green Bay.   His family returned to Madison in 1942 and he graduated from Wisconsin High School in 1947.   As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin he served as a member of the basketball team managerial staff and was senior manager during the 1950-51 season earning a major ""W"" award for his work.   During his last two years of college he researched the school's complete basketball history under the guidance of Sports Information Director Art Lentz.   He graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology.   Following graduation he entered the military, serving with the U.S. Army Transportation Corp from 1951-53 including sixteen months in Korea.   He returned to the University of Wisconsin and worked as a student assistant in the Sports Information Office while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.   He was appointed assistant Sports Information Director in July 1954 and was appointed head Sports Information Director in March, 1966 and served in that capacity until his retirement in June, 1990.   He was a member of the National ""W"" Club, Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Reserve Officers Association, the Exchange Club of Madison, and the Sertoma Club of Madison.   He was active in the U.S. Army reserve program until retirement from the military with the rank of Colonel in March, 1980   Jim was a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) starting in 1955, serving as president in 1972-73.   He was elected to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1979 and in 1986 was presented with the organization's highest award -- the Arch Ward Award. He served as secretary of the Madison Pen and Mike Club (now Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club) for 31 of its first 34 years and served as the organization's president in 1972-73.   He coordinated media relations for the WIAA State High School Wrestling and Basketball Tournaments for many years before his retirement.   The Wisconsin High School Basketball Coaches Association honored him in 1986 with election to their Hall of Fame in the ""Friends of Basketball"" section.   At the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Games he served as media relations coordinator for the gold-medal winning U.S. Ice Hockey team. He co-authored two books, ""On Wisconsin"", a history of Wisconsin football, published in 1977, and ""On Wisconsin! -- The History of Badger Athletics 1896-2001"", published in 2001.   In 1991 he was honored as the National ""W"" Club's Man-of-the-Year.   In 1994 he received the Pat O'Dea Award ""in recognition of highly dedicated service and continuing support to the University of Wisconsin's athletics programs."" In September 1995, he was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and in June 1996 he was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame.   Jim is survived by Dorothy, his loving wife of 51 years, his three sons and their families (William, wife Julie, sons James, Andrew and David; David, wife Stephanie, son Nicholas, daughter Mattigan; Eric ""Mo"", wife Analisa), brother Roger and sister Elaine. He was preceded in death by his father Donald, mother Marian, sisters Jeannine and Diane.   The family extends their deep appreciation to the caring staff at Oak Park Place Assisted Living in Middleton.   Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 26, 2009 at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH , 312 Wisconsin Ave., at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Bill White officiating. A memorial gathering will be held at the church on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services.   In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Hospice, in appreciation for their wonderful care of Jim, or Bethel Lutheran Church.