Kincaid fondly remembered by golfing pals

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 29, 2014 1:48 PM

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No matter how they're asked to describe Jim "Blackie" Kincaid, his golfing pals all say the same thing -- he was a gentleman, a friend, a competitor, a loving husband, a great father and a proud great-grandpapa.

An avid sportsman, Kincaid passed away with his family by his side last Thursday. Family and friends gathered Sunday to pay their final respects to a man who not only played football in the collegiate and professional ranks, but also served his country in the United States Coast Guard.

Kincaid, 84, was entombed at Wayne Memorial Park.

"Me and Bobby Frederick bid him farewell Thursday and said we'll see in him in Heaven, then he passed away a couple of hours later," Gene Baker said. "He's as fine a person and gentlemen you could ever play golf with. He was faithful to the game as long as he could play.

"When you played with him, he always made you feel like he was a friend."

Those golf outings were more than just competitive.

Kincaid revealed small details about himself while they either waited to take tee shots or hop in the cart to find their shots that strayed somewhere on either the Sleepy Creek Golf Course or other courses in Wayne County.

At first glance, Baker never imagined that Kincaid played football, basketball, baseball and ran track when he arrived on the University of South Carolina campus in 1948. Despite his wiry 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame, he started at defensive back for the Gamecocks, who were guided by then-head coach Rex Enright.

Kincaid joined the Coast Guard after his junior season at USC along with Bill and two teammates. After his tour, he earned his degree at USC in 1954 and was a third-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams traded Kincaid to the Washington Redskins. He spent one season in the NFL and spent the next two years in the Canadian Football League. Kincaid played with the Hamilton Tigercats (1955) and Montreal Alouettes (1956).

"Who would have thought he played football?" Baker said.

A native of Ansted, West Virginia, Kincaid earned his Master's degree from USC and was active in the Gamecock Club. He stay involved with the university until he moved to Goldsboro.

Kincaid became a member of Madison Avenue Baptist Church and a vital part of the community. He was a deacon, a teacher, dedicated to the church choir, participated on various committees, played softball and officiated high school football.

Golfing emerged as his passion once he hung up his whistle and stored his softball gear. Kincaid recorded 13 holes-in-one on the links with numerous partners who witnessed his keen ability that led to those remarkable feats.

"You know, Blackie was an extraordinary athlete," Jello Hallow said. "He was very good at whatever he did and I'll tell you it was always a fight with him on the golf course. Even when you did manage to beat him, he'd have a good laugh about it.

"That was Blackie ... just an outstanding person to be around."

Kincaid is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane, and son, Jimmy, two sisters (Helen and Patsy), and two brothers (Bill and Mike), several brother- and sisters-in-law and 10 great-grandchildren.

"I know Janie will miss him because they were very close," Hallow said. "I know everyone in Goldsboro is going to miss Blackie. It hits you really hard to know he's not going to be here."