Jim Carmichael; Retired Principal, Coach

Jim B. Carmichael, who served as principal of Palmdale and Antelope Valley high schools and coached varsity football, has died at a Lancaster hospital. He was 61.

A longtime Palmdale resident, Carmichael died Wednesday of a heart attack, said his daughter, Monica D’Errico of Palmdale.

Born in Crescent, Okla., Carmichael served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from the University of Tulsa before coming to California in 1959. He taught health science, physical education and English at Palmdale High and was head varsity football coach in the mid-1960s. Carmichael later went into administration, working his way up to principal of Antelope Valley High in the early 1970s. He returned to Palmdale High in 1981 as principal and later served as adult education vice principal. He retired in January, 1991.

Carmichael was a former member of the Southern Section California Interscholastic Federation Executive Board, former member of the Palmdale Hospital Medical Center board of directors and member of the Kiwanis Club of Palmdale. In the late 1980s, the city of Palmdale named a perpetual football award in Carmichael’s name. At his retirement party, the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster proclaimed Feb. 2, 1991, as Jim Carmichael Day, and he was honored by federal, state and county legislators.

In addition to his daughter, Monica, Carmichael is survived by his wife, Janis Carmichael; daughter Diane Chronister of Lancaster; mother Margaret Carmichael of Guthrie, Okla.; brothers Dort Carmichael and Elmer Carmichael, both of Crescent, Okla., and five grandchildren.

A funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church of Lancaster, 918 W. Ave. J. Burial will follow at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster. Chapel of the Valley Mortuary in Palmdale is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carmichael’s name to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Assn.