Ole Miss Football Legend Jim Poole Jr. Dies at 76

James E. “Jim” Poole Jr., 76, an Ole Miss Hall of Famer and former football standout, died Sunday in Jackson, Mississippi, according to university officials.

Poole Jr. played tight end for the Rebels from 1969 to 1971. He was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and helped Ole Miss compile a 25-9 record during his tenure. He also participated in three bowl games.

During his college career, Poole Jr. caught 110 passes for 1,196 yards and scored six touchdowns. As a sophomore, he was the only freshman to earn first-team All-SEC honors and set a school record with 43 receptions for 456 yards. He led Ole Miss in receiving during the 1970 Sugar Bowl, with seven receptions for 70 yards.

Poole Jr. continued to excel in bowl games, catching nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn. He played in the 1972 Hula Bowl before signing as a free agent with the New York Giants.

He was inducted into the Ole Miss M-Club Hall of Fame in 2025 and received the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame last fall.

Following graduation, Poole Jr. moved to Jackson, where he married Gayle Smithson in 1978. He is survived by his wife, their three daughters, and 10 grandchildren. An active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, he volunteered with Kairos Prison Ministries and served on its Central Mississippi Board of Directors.

Poole Jr. was a certified public accountant and co-founded GranthamPoole, a regional accounting firm, in 1999. He retired in 2013. He also founded James E. Poole, CPA, in 1985 and was involved in various business ventures, including real estate and oil and gas exploration.

Visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a funeral service. Burial will take place at Oxford Memorial Cemetery at 4 p.m.

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