James Prudhome
Jim Prudhome was a 1970 graduate of UW-L, receiving a B.S. degree in economics. He served UW-L as a past member of the UW-L Alumni Association Board of Directors and was a charter member of the Silver Eagles, an organization formed in 1996 as part of CBA’s 25th-anniversary celebration. He served on many committees over the years, including scholarship review committees for the College of Business, and specifically the Silver Eagles.
James Patrick Prudhome, 68, of La Crosse died Friday, May 23, 2014, after a brief fight with cancer at Bethany St. Joseph Health Care Center.
He was born Jan. 10, 1946, in Calumet, Mich., to Fred and Mary (Malvey) Prudhome. In Jim’s early years the family moved to La Crosse, so Fred could work for Mathy Construction. He attended Aquinas High School where he excelled as a member of the track and field teams. Upon graduation from Aquinas, he attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. While at UW-L, he was a member of the National Guard. He also served two years as president of Beta Sigma Chi fraternity.
Jim began volunteering as a track and field coach at Aquinas while he was a junior at UW-L. Upon graduation with bachelor’s degrees in economics and psychology, Aquinas offered him a teaching position. He pursued his teaching and coaching career at Aquinas from 1970 to 1992, during which time Aquinas won 51 CWCC boys and girls indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country titles, in addition to three boys and five girls WISAA state titles. Jim served as head coach from 1986 until 1992, when he retired. He also organized and coached the first ski team at Aquinas. He remained a lifelong friend to many of his students and colleagues.
After his retirement from teaching, he worked at Prudential as an investment adviser, a warranty manager for Wettstein’s and, at the time of his illness, was the office manager for Image World. Jim also volunteered for numerous organizations, including Stars of Tomorrow, Silver Eagles, UW-L Alumni Association, La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, the La Crosse Plugs and the ISOP Investment Club.
While having an active social life, Jim enjoyed dinner parties with friends, being the favorite uncle to numerous adopted families and will be missed by all his friends from The New Villa, Schmidty’s, Bluffside and Digger’s. Jim enjoyed playing cards with the Manistique Pinochle Club, watching the Brewers, driving his Datsun 280Z, attending events at Viterbo and the La Crosse Community Theatre as well as traveling to Las Vegas many times. Jim will always be remembered for buying the first round!
Jim requested memorial donations to: The UW-L Foundation/College of Business Administration or The Franciscan Circle at Viterbo University for the Fine Arts Program.
Farewell, Doc JP … Rest in Peace.
Impact
Jim’s legacy will continue through this scholarship fund. The 1970s grad returned to serve on committees, boards and helped establish the Silver Eagles alumni group. Even after his passing, his commitment to UW-L continues.
A $195,000 estate gift has established the James Prudhome Scholarship Endowment Fund in Economics. Two College of Business Administration juniors or seniors majoring or minoring in economics will receive $4,000 scholarships beginning in 2016-17. “We very much appreciate Jim’s thoughtful gift,” says TJ Brooks, Economics Department chair. “I know he was always a staunch supporter of the university and cared very deeply for our students.” Prudhome was president of Silver Eagles for nearly a decade. He was its representative on the UW-L Alumni Association Board of Directors for nine years. After his Silver Eagles board term expired, Prudhome continued to be involved with the CBA’s Take An Eagle to Lunch. He attended the Foundation’s scholarship reception annually. He enjoyed meeting recipients, says Janie Morgan, Alumni Association executive director.
“Jim loved the students, and was so proud of the College of Business Administration,” says Morgan. “He lit up when he talked about the students he met and the impact the scholarship dollars were having on their lives.”