Moore Jr, James E
Class of 1962James E. Moore, Jr. was born in Wilmington on January 29, 1945.
At New Hanover High School was voted MVP in football, was co-captain, MVP, and First Team All-State in basketball, and was a leading hitter in baseball. Moore and his NHHS teammates won the 4-A basketball state championship his junior and senior years and, in 2010, the staff of the Charlotte Observer named his senior team the sixth best high school basketball team ever in the state of North Carolina.
Uncertain about which sport to choose for college, Jim entertained scholarships offers for all three sports until the spring of his senior year when he accepted a full scholarship offer to play basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels under their new coach, Dean Smith. At UNC he was a point guard and standout defensive player for the basketball team as a senior, was the recipient of the Foy Robeson Award as the Team’s Most inspirational Play. In addition, he won in track in three events: the high jump, broad jump, and triple jump.
Moore graduated from UNC with a degree in Psychology. While waiting to enter Air Force Officer Training School, he taught high school Biology and Physics. He then served in the Air Force from 1967-1971 as an Electronics Communication officer.
In 1971 he returned to Wilmington and joined the James E. Moore Insurance Agency which he purchased in 1974.
At age 70, Jim was still playing basketball, tennis, and golf and supporting young athletes and athletics as a mentor, financial supporter and fan. He served on the Board of the Wilmington Family YMCA and the GWSHOF.
He was a 2015 inductee into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
Accolades: 2015 Inductee into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame