CLAIM TO FAME: People still tell stories about basketball at Wildwood. And though years have passed and the tales have become tall, Wildwood's single basketball court, since replaced, is still remembered as once being the place to play ball in St. Petersburg.
Much of Wildwood's reputation has to do with the work of Jet Jackson. He and his late friend, Ken Robinson, organized some of the most popular basketball leagues and tournaments in the South while Jackson was a supervisor at Wildwood Recreation Center in the 1980s and '90s.
The tournaments attracted top high school, college and local amateurs, and with permission from the NCAA they were allowed to play against each other. Jackson said college coaches from all over the country wanted to get their teams in on the action. Coaches came to recruit, and he even recruited several players for Howard University and Florida A&M. The quality of play was so respected, the NBA used Wildwood as a training site for officials for a few summers. Jackson called it the basketball capital of the world.
There were about three tournaments a year with different formats, including 3-on-3. He said his favorite was Midnight Madness, when games started at midnight and went well into the next day.
"It was tremendous," Jackson said. "It kept kids off of the street. It kept kids out of trouble."
But Jackson's work at Wildwood is just part of his connection with the city's recreation programs. It started when he was about 7 and he learned how to swim at Wildwood's pool, Jennie Hall. After high school he became a lifeguard at Wildwood and Demens Landing and has moved up the ranks, becoming somewhat of an icon in the community known simply as Jet. Jackson said he doubts most people know his first name is Thomas.
"It's amazing what happened," he said.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He spends all his time helping other people. Since he was a young boy, he was always into stuff to help the neighborhood. Every hour of the day, he finds something to do with it," said Charles Williams, Jackson's friend of 45 years and former football teammate at Gibbs High.
DID YOU KNOW?: As a young boy, Jackson won four diving championships in a statewide recreation center competition.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: He is recreation manager for the City of St. Petersburg and this June will mark his 44th year of service with the city. He oversees the Teen Arts, Sports and Cultural Events program, city co-sponsored events such as festivals and walks, and special events for children.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: "If I could help someone along the way, then my living will not be in vain."
