In February, over 200 people gathered at the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways Museum for a surprise 90th birthday party for Jimmy Calhoun-long-time coach, teacher, and assistant principal of Great Bridge High School. The setting was significant: a Great Bridge native, Jimmy was born on nearby property overlooking the locks of the Intracostal Waterway. As a student at Great Bridge High, he excelled in multiple sports. After graduating from Elon College, he began his career teaching and coaching at Great Bridge Junior High before moving on to the high school, where, as a coach, he became an icon of Great Bridge football. When he began serving as the high school's assistant principal in 1971, he proved to be an equally impressive administrator.

"Jimmy has affected so many lives," Chesapeake Mayor Rick West says, "that when we spread the word of his 90th birthday party, we had 210 people respond immediately."

Former athletes and students (some traveling from around the country) joined teachers, administrators, city officials, neighbors, and Jimmy's family for the party-which indeed took Jimmy by surprise. "He was speechless-and if you know Jimmy, that's very unusual," says long-time friend and colleague Carolyn Bernard with a laugh.
A beautiful slideshow of highlights from Jimmy's career was presented, as well as heartfelt tributes from Mayor West and others.

"Jimmy mentored many young athletes and teachers, helping to mold them into the men and women they are today," Carolyn Bernard says. "I‘m proof of that because I'm one of them and proud of it."