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This week's Ponca Military Academy story features Jim Self, who was both a cadet, and later a teacher and a coach at the academy.
Here is Jim's story in his own words: I was a cadet in Junior High from 1952-54 and a teacher from 1963-73.
This last September I attended the all school reunion and enjoyed seeing ex-students and classmates.
Flag Pole Duty
My seventh grade was a year of transition being away from home and getting used to the rules. I became very acquainted with the flag pole, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, marching around and around for three hours each day. It took a while but I finally got smarter — didn't buck the trend.
My school days as a cadet were centered around a 'ball' most of the time. I loved athletics and my coaches Capt. Abbott and Capt. Baker.
"The last time I visited with Coach Abbott was at an OU-OSU track dual in Norman while I was attending OU. He was a wonderful person and a big influence in my life. During my eighth and ninth grades they took us to a number of OSU football and basketball games.
I attended the famous Drake-OSU game (Johnny Bright-Wilbanks Smith episode) and the Washington State game when the red and white Cougar uniforms faded to pink.
During my ninth grade with more 'rank' and responsibility, I eliminated the flag pole duty. Girls appeared and my first girlfriend had me looking forward to "town days." Interestingly, 40 years later I discovered she lived next door to my sister in Phoenix.
My roommate, Bill English became a lifelong friend. He made All State in football at Northwest Classen in Oklahoma City during high school. At OU we both pledged the same fraternity.
My parents were in the hotel business and operated three in downtown Tulsa. I decided to return home for high school and attended Tulsa Central, which was one block from the Corona Hotel.
With the experience of participating in athletics at PMA, I was able to play football, basketball and baseball at Central. My sophomore year I received a 'gold ball' as a reserve on our State Championship team.
Played Dick Wilson
and Lou Clinton
We won games against Ponca City and Norman High School. Ponca was undefeated and 'non-shaven' and decided not to shave until they lost a game. A couple of guys I remember from the Ponca team were Dick Wilson and Lou Clinton, who later played in the major leagues.

Baseball helped me get a college education at OU after a major league scout, Fred Hawn, recommended me to Jack Baer who was the OU baseball coach.
PMA Coaching Position
After a home game during my senior year, Col. Cox came to the dugout and visited with me about a coaching and teaching position at PMA. I started work at summer school in June '63.
I lived in the barracks and worked from noon until bedtime with the cadets. We went swimming every afternoon at Wentz Pool.
I spent much time trying to teach Fred Miller to swim and didn't get that accomplished during the summer. Recently Fred called and we had a nice visit and laugh. He did learn to swim and later joined the Navy.
Bob Roggendorff of Tulsa was at the reunion in September and we also recalled that summer.
I coached football and baseball during the regular school year and recruited for school enrollment in the Tulsa area during the summer.
My first six or seven years we had a full company of cadets (150 maximum) with a waiting list. A dwindling enrollment my last three or four years was a result of the negative feelings about the military and the Viet Nam war which resulted in the school closing in 1974.
Faculty Benefit
A benefit the faculty and their family had was the opportunity to eat all meals at school. My wife, Danys, was also on the faculty for five years as the librarian. The Self family would make the dinner meal several times a week. The meals were excellent and served family style. The cadets were assigned to a table and everyone got to know each other quite well and no one left hungry.
Each of the cadets that attended PMA came for their own personal reasons and in most cases the result was positive. As a student and later as part of the faculty, I have many fond and lasting memories.
Enters Insurance
In 1973, I became a State Farm agent in Ponca City and serviced clients in Oklahoma for 30 years. On numerous occasions former cadets would call or stop by my office for a visit. It was always gratifying to learn the impact PMA had on their lives.
After retirement in 2003, Danys and I moved to Tulsa to be closer to our daughter Melissa and husband Kurt Hoffman and our grandchildren Payden and Baylie.