Jim Finks Foundation

“If we are ever unlucky enough to have it made, we will be spectators, not participants in life. Does the road wind uphill the entire way? Yes, to the very end.”​ - Jim Finks

Born in St. Louis Missouri, 1927 and raised in Salem, Illinois. He met and married his college sweetheart Maxine Stemmons at Tulsa University. Together, they raised four boys. Jim Finks was a devout Catholic. Jim Finks Professional Sports Career
​• Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as Executive (General Manager)
• Known for taking perennial losing NFL teams into building them into winners.
• In 1970’s -- Minnesota Vikings appeared in 4 Super Bowls.
• In 1980’s -- Chicago Bears – 1985 Super Bowl Champion
• In 1990’s -- New Orleans Saints became perennial playoff contenders
• Drafted Walter Payton – considered football’s all-time greatest player.
• Finalist for NFL Commissioner
• Starting Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, 1949-1955
• 1952 led NFL in TD passes
• Coached Running Backs for Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 1956
• Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds as a catcher, 1948
• President of MLB Chicago Cubs, 1983-84
• Known as a father-figure by many NFL players.
• Attended Tulsa University.
• Died in 1994 of lung cancer at the age of 66