James Boyd

James William “Pinky” Boyd, 97, of Crosslake, passed away February 6, 2018 at his home. A Celebration of Pinky’s Life is on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Crosslake Lutheran Church at 11:30AM. Visitation will begin at 10:30AM at the church. Burial will be at the Crosslake Church Columbarium. After services there will be a light luncheon served at the church.

Pinky was born December 28, 1920, in Brainerd, the son of James A. and Martha (Grant) Boyd. Following high school, James attended Hamline University where he enjoyed a celebrated athletic career. Inducted into the Hamline University Hall of Fame in 1999,Pinky Boyd was a seven-time letter winner at Hamline, where he was also a member of the H Club. In basketball, he played as both a forward and a guard, earning four letters during his career and All Conference status in 1943. He also had the best free throw percentage that year. Pinky was a starting forward on Hamline's 1942 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championship basketball team, which was inducted into the Hamline University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1972. As a football player, Pinky was a fullback, defensive back, and linebacker. He was named All Conference honorable mention his senior year.

Upon graduating from Hamline, Pinky married the love of his life, Donna Mae Dammann in December 1943. Pinky served his country for three years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Pinky launched a long and successful career as a teacher and coach beginning in Circle, Montana. He taught and coached in Forest Lake prior to spending 31 years in LeSueur, Minnesota, in the field of health and physical education, coaching basketball, football and track. During his 18 years as head coach of the basketball and track teams, each earned six conference championships. And during his 27 years with the football program, his teams won eight conference championships.
He served on the board of directors for the Masonic Cancer Hospital Fund. Following his retirement from teaching and coaching, Pinky and his wife, Donna, moved to the Crosslake area and had been heavily involved as volunteers. Pinky enjoyed the time he was able to spend at the lake, especially playing with his two golden retrievers.

He is survived by his son, James (Patti) Boyd; grandchildren, Justin (Whitney) Boyd, Ashley (Daniel) Diaz, Matt Rogers, and Meghan (Jared) Smith; sisters-in-law, Lois Dunn and Barbara Steenson; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Mae; daughter, Jeanne Rogers; and son-in-law, Martin Rogers. The family has requested no flowers, if you would like to make a donation, they ask that you would make that to Hamline University Athletic Association. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Crosslake, MN.