Eddie Jackson, 220 Quarterback Club President, FAMU Sports Hall of Famer passes away
Florida A&M has lost one of its most devoted and passionate Rattlers.
Eddie Jackson, President of the 220 Quarterback Club, passed away in his sleep Monday afternoon, his wife Jerrlyne announced through the organization in an email Monday night.
Jackson was 86 years old.
“It is with tears in my eyes and a hole in my heart that I share with you that ‘our Eddie’ has left us,” Jerrlyne said in the email to club members.
“Shortly after 2:00 p.m. (Monday), he quietly stopped breathing while sleeping and took flight to join his Savior, some family, and other Rattlers in that “prepared peaceful place.”
A FAMU graduate, Jackson spent his professional career as the Rattlers’ athletic department’s sports information director, University Relations’ communications director, and vice president.
Later, in 2009, Jackson started the 220 Quarterback Club, which began as a fundraising group to support FAMU’s football program.
The 220 Quarterback Club, which has weekly luncheons on Wednesdays, then expanded to all FAMU sports and assisted with university needs.
Presided by Jackson, the 220 Quarterback Club made donations to the Rattler football program to get a nutrition station, gifted televisions to the Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse, and also made the program the first HBCU to get a cooling station to combat warm temperatures during preseason training camp.
Jackson’s death came amidst an ambitious $1 million fundraising push to FAMU Athletics by the year’s end. The goal always seemed possible to Jackson.
“Right now, it seems it may be a bridge too far for some people,” he told the club in April. “But, we are Rattler Strong. We are Rattler Strong. We don’t shrink from a great challenge.”
Jackson was inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 as a contributor, supporter, and administrator for his commitment to the university’s progression.
In 2009, Jackson, who worked directly with and befriended legendary Rattlers football coach Jake Gaither, authored the book ‘Coaching Against the Wind,’ chronicling FAMU football’s national championship seasons.
He also penned columns for the Tallahassee Democrat about FAMU history and how the school overcame adversity, noting that “when dark clouds gather on the horizon, FAMU comes first.”
“Challenges come with the territory, but Florida A&M University is now in a place it has never been before,” he wrote in 2022. “FAMU now stands on solid as well as sacred ground. It is a fully-fledged member of the State University System of Florida, its identity intact, growing stronger every day, and you have been there every step along the way.”
Funeral and memorial arrangements for Jackson have not been set yet. Jackson’s family will release details once they become available.
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 220 QB Club President, FAMU Sports HOF member Eddie Jackson passes away
