Charlie James

Joint Alumni Weekend Golf Tournament to be named for longtime William Woods Trustee Charlie James

An annual rite of Spring for both William Woods University (WWU) and Westminster College is the joint Alumni Weekend Golf Tournament, held each year during the Friday of both institutions’ alumni weekend events.

This year’s tournament, scheduled for Friday, April 12th at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, is being officially renamed as the Charlie James Golf Tournament, to honor the longtime WWU trustee, Fulton resident and former major league baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. The tournament is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Fulton with proceeds going to local charities.

“To have my name associated with the yearly alumni weekend golf tournament is truly an honor,” said James, a member of the WWU Board of Trustees for more than three decades. “Alumni weekend and this tournament are events that are so looked forward to each year by William Woods and Westminster alumni, and I am excited to take part.”

2024 is the 60th anniversary of the pinnacle James’s professional career, when he was a member of the 1964 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, playing in the World Series against the storied New York Yankees. All told, James’ baseball career spanned six seasons, including five with the Cardinals and one with the Cincinnati Reds. His athletic career also included earning a football scholarship to the University of Missouri, where he was a standout running back for the Tigers.

Following his baseball career, James earned an engineering degree and settled in Fulton, where he became president of Central Electric Company. He has been married to his wife Jo for 65 years and has two children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

James, and President Barnett at the 1995 Stone-Campbell Memorial Hall dedication.

It was in 1990 that he joined the WWU Board of Trustees.

“William Woods University has always been such a major contributor to our community here in Fulton, and when the president at the time asked me to serve on the board, I was honored to accept,” he recalled. “It has been a great honor to be a part of the William Woods board.” For more on Alumni Weekend at William Woods, please call (573) 592-4237 or reply to [email protected].