WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Jim Loomis has been selected to receive the Cecil Perkins Service Award for the year 2023.
 
The award, which is presented by the SWOSU Athletic Department, will be presented next week at the department's annual All-Sports Banquet, held on Wednesday, April 26th at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
 
"I just feel blessed to receive the honor," said Loomis after learning of his selection. "My first thought when I received the news from Coach Helton was 'why me?' but then I got to reflecting and realized maybe I have done a few things for the Athletic Department and been involved with quite a bit. I was just always happy to help out."
 
Loomis grew up in Woodward, Oklahoma before coming to SWOSU in 1962. He was on the football team for three years and went on to graduate in 1966. Upon graduation, he coached for six years before returning to Weatherford to begin his career in construction where he eventually began working at SWOSU as the Director of the Physical Plant.
 
Loomis was employed by the school for nearly 15 years and while working for the Physical Plant, had the opportunity to coach the men's soccer team from its origination as the program's first head coach with the help of none other than Cecil Perkins – SWOSU's Athletic Director at the time.
 
"I always appreciated Cecil (Perkins) for trusting me to become the head coach and to help get the program off the ground."
 
Loomis coached the men's soccer team from 1999-2001 while continuing to work for the Physical Plant and was named the Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year in his final season. After his time working at SWOSU came to an end, he went back to operating his local construction business, Jim Loomis Construction, which he still owns to this day.
 
Jim Loomis Construction is well known for its involvement in many projects around the SWOSU campus including many in support of SWOSU Athletics. Working with the athletics department specifically, Loomis has built the Pioneer Cellular Event Center, which he maintains is the project he is most proud of, the Everett Dobson Golf Training Facility, and the new Strength & Conditioning Center. He is also responsible for the clock tower situated in the middle of campus.  
 
"Being able to assist with the building of many of the athletic facilities has been my way of showing support by pairing my construction skills with my love for SWOSU sports."
 
Loomis has also served on the SWOSU Athletic Alumni Association board for over 10 years. He is appreciative to current and previous SWOSU Presidents and Athletic Directors he's worked with. "I always had great relationships with them, and they've always been good to me." He was also firm on thanking his wife, Jeanne, son, Michael, and grandsons Austin, Carter, & Trevor. Alongside Michael's wife Cori and Austin's wife Meagan.
 
This is the 11th year that the Cecil Perkins Service Award has been presented. The award is named for Perkins, the former SWOSU Athletic Director who passed away in September 2013. Perkins helped pioneer the direction of the Bulldogs' athletic programs for more than a quarter century, elevating the SWOSU Athletic Department to the NCAA Division II level. His philosophy of putting the student-athlete first in any decision has led to hundreds of individual success stories that continue to positively impact the new generation of students, coaches, and teams at SWOSU and beyond.
 
Cecil Perkins Service Award Recipients
2022: Rouben Tourian
2021: President Randy Beutler
2020: Herschel Brewster
2019: Stan Garrison
2018: Les Crall
2017: Jim Litsch
2016: Jimmy Harrel
2015: Rick Koch
2014: Max & Judy Pyron
2013: Joe Phillips