The booming voice is quiet now, the cowboy hat possibly in a chair or closet now that the man who, for 30 years was the PE teacher at Gulf Breeze Elementary, finished his final lap. Jim Singleton passed away on May 21 at the age of 80 after suffering from dementia.
Singleton shaped generations of Gulf Breeze residents, encouraging them to attain physical fitness and stay active for life. Although he officially retired in 2009, he continued to volunteer at GBES to remain close to the children.
As his daughter, Angela Vest recalls, Singleton often said, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. I get to be around kids all day. What is better than that?”
A celebration of Singleton’s life is planned for Wednesday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Gulf Breeze Elementary School cafeteria.
When Singleton retired in 2009, students from every year of his tenure showed up to offer their congratulations, starting from 1979. Some brought their children, who were current students of Singleton’s.
Known for assigning nicknames to students and bestowing a “zerbert” (a loud noise made by placing the lips on the cheek and blowing) on kids having a birthday, Singleton was also a fixture at the front sidewalk, helping direct traffic and making sure children were safely deposited at the front door each morning.
“Gulf Breeze is probably the best place in the world to teach,” Singleton told the crowd at his retirement party. It’s a great place to bring up kids, and I had some hard-working kids.”
Singleton established a rapport with the kids, who quickly learned that the Texas native takes his University of Texas athletics seriously, even wearing the opposing team’s colors when his beloved Longhorns suffer a loss.
His gruff demeanor belied his tender heart for the kids, and he often took delight in making himself a target.
Singleton often challenged the students to meet the physical fitness goals, and one year he said that if 100 kids passed the physical fitness test, he would shave his head. They did, so he gathered the students in the stadium to witness his barber shave his head bald.
One year, the challenge was met and he wore a dress to school all day long. Another time, he dressed as Elvis for a school program.
Singleton spent his weekends at the recreation league games, offering his support to students and former students as they competed.
Singleton served for 12 years in the Air Force, then went to college to become a teacher. Gulf Breeze Elementary is his only teaching job although he volunteered at Fort Walton Beach schools when he was in college.
After retiring, Singleton spent time with his special friend, Pat Risher, and his three daughters, Kimberly Boone, Angie Vest, Evelia Hooks and his grandchildren.