'Mr. Manual': Peoria educational icon Jim Bixby remembered as dedicated and dynamic
Jim Bixby has been on Tim Kenny's mind a lot over the past few days.
Kenny worked alongside Bixby at Manual High School for six years, but knew him his entire life growing up in West Peoria. The now-retired Rams athletics director reflected on the lifelong impact "Mr. Bixby" had on him as well as Peoria's southside.
"You just knew him as a great person, even as a kid," Kenny said. "Mr. Bixby had that special quality that a few people have."
Bixby died on Tuesday at age 82 in Peoria. The Peoria Public Schools icon spent 33 years in various roles within the district, retiring in 1998 after 29 years as a Manual guidance counselor. In a social media post, Manual High called Bixby a "pillar of the Manual community whose impact is everlasting."
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Dan Fauser took his tribute one step further.
"He was 'Mr. Manual' if anybody was," said the school's former football coach. "He was, I would say, the most important person at Manual High School. He was dynamic."
When Fauser took over the football program, "Bix" was the first person to introduce himself and quickly became Fauser's mentor. The pair would meet after every football season to check grades and make sure the ones who needed summer school were enrolled.
One of Bixby's biggest strengths was his ability to get kids to listen to him, Fauser said.
"He was a fantastic person with keeping stuff going in the right direction," he said. "There aren't enough people brought into this world like him."
Fauser fondly recalls Bixby's sense of humor and the pranks he would pull, specifically an ongoing one to his counselor colleague, Ron Roberts.
When Roberts was away from his office, Bixby, who got help from the Manual head custodian, would mess with the thermostat to kick on the heat. Roberts would show up the next day dressed for the warmer temps, but Bixby would jack up the temperature for the air conditioner to start.
"He carried that on for years," Fauser said with a laugh, "Bix did with the hot-cold. ... He was a fun person to be around."
Put Bixby on the microphone at homecoming assemblies or football pep rallies, and the Bradley University graduate was in his element.
In the heyday of Manual basketball, Bixby led the charge during the Class AA state championship four-peat. His ability to get the large crowd of Rams fans revved up for the games was second to none.
"He was legendary," said Scott Schifeling, who has taught at Manual for 33 years. "He was just involved in everything at Manual. ... If I had questions that I needed to have answered about things, he was one of the guys I would go to."
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Often synonymous with the Rams, Bixby was a proud Peoria High graduate from 1959.
“Everybody knew,” he told the Journal Star in March 2012 of his allegiance to Central. “I had some great mentors (former coaches) at both places — Ken Heinrichs and Hal Fuson at Manual, Harry Whitaker at Central. I’m a lucky person to have had that.”
Some of Bixby's community involvement included being a member of the Rotary Club of Peoria-North, an Illinois High School Association boys basketball state team host, and the Gus Macker assistant director. He served as Lincoln College dean of students and founded the Peoria Regional Learning Center.
Dozens of tributes filled with hundreds of comments plastered Bixby's Facebook page. Pictures with memories, lauding Bixby for his assistance through many of his former student's high school days.
Several more goodbyes could be found on his online obituary, including one from Ray LaHood, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary and former member of the U.S. Congress.
"Jim was an extraordinary mentor for hundreds of young people in Central Illinois!" LaHood wrote. "He was totally and completely committed to Peoria Public School students. Jim worked with Congressman Bob Michel’s Office and my Congressional office for decades to recruit and encourage young men and women to attend the Military Academies.
"His contributions to Roger and friends radio show were always enlightening. Jim made a huge positive difference in our community. May his memory be a blessing to all. Rest in peace Jim!"
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As Bixby's obituary reads, "Jim’s last wish was not to become an urban legend," so his family is hosting a celebration of life from 1-5 p.m. Jan. 20 at Barrack Catering. Attendees are encouraged to share stories and songs to "bid farewell to a legend."
Bixby is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen, four children, Ted, Chad, Brent and Monika and 10 grandchildren.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Jim Bixby obituary: Peoria remembers longtime Manual counselor
