The field house at Sul Ross State University’s football stadium will be dedicated in memory of Randy Jackson during Homecoming festivities Saturday, Oct. 29.
“Randy was a huge supporter of Sul Ross State University, and not just on the athletic side,” said Vice President of Advancement and Athletics Jim Goodman. “He continued to take a class or two to stay connected and deserved the title of ‘Mr. Sul Ross’ he was given a couple of years ago. Naming the field house for Randy Jackson is more than appropriate to remember him and how much he did for the school.”
Jackson, who passed away on Dec. 21, 2021, first came to Alpine in the mid-60’s to watch his older brother play football for the Lobos.
“There was an instant connection to this place,” said his wife, Sherry Jackson.
Randy returned right away and enrolled, receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also worked as SRSU’s first ever recruiter, a job he took so that he didn’t have to leave Alpine or the campus he held so dear.
His dream was to work in the music industry, and he later moved to Nashville, where he became a consultant for all genres, booking big name stars, attending White House dinners, and bringing acts to entertain audiences at Camp David – always running into Sul Ross alumni along the way, adding them to his collection of friends, said Sherry.
“Friendship was big with Randy,” she said. “He had so many friends and he kept in touch with so many people.”
In 2011, he bought property in the area and he and Sherry returned to Alpine together to build a home “where we’re always happy.”
He became a booster for SRSU Athletics, attending 58 straight football games at one point. When he noticed that the team needed new unforms, he began fundraising through that collection of friends.
“He knew how to ask gently,” said Sherry. “It was a gift and people knew it came from the heart.”
When he passed last year, Sherry said more than 20 news releases were written about Randy in the Nashville area – though no obituary was provided and no funeral was held.
“Randy had his own way of doing things. If you knew him, you knew that,” said Sherry.
Randy Jackson was born on May 5, 1946, the son of Boone Jackson, a U.S. Navy veteran and football coach, and Floreine Jackson, a legal secretary. He graduated from Monahans High School.
The dedication will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will take place at the 50-yard line before the Lobos kick off at 1 p.m. against McMurry Saturday.
“Randy and Sherry were both tireless in their support of Sul Ross and honoring him this way is something I know he would be proud of,” said Goodman.