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Who am I and
why do I do some of the things I do?
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Education:
Graduated with B.S. in Education from
University of Memphis, 1980
Graduated Memphis University School, 1970
Graduated Presbyterian Day School, 1964
Employment History:
Duckmaster, Peabody Hotel to 2016-2017
Riverfront Development Corporation Community Engagement Manager and General
Manager of Beale Street Landing, 2011 to 2016
Tournament Services Coordinator, FedEx St. Jude Classic, 2010-2012
Program Specialist, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2009-2010
Vice President, Ericson Group Inc, 2003-2009
Director, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum,
2000-2003
Vice President of Operations, Performa
Entertainment (Beale Street) 1998-2000
General Manager, Memphis Queen Line,
1993-1998
General Manager, Schorr Management Company,
1987-1989
General Manager, Mud Island, 1985-1987 and
1989-1993
Deputy Director, Memphis Park Commission,
1984-1985
Administrative Manager, Memphis Park
Commission, 1983-1984
Special Events Supervisor, Memphis
Recreation Department, 1979-1983
Church
Recreation Specialist, First Baptist,
1973-1979
Community Organizations:
Rural Heritage Trust of Southwest Tennessee, President, 2016-2019; Secretary,
2020 to Present
Board Member of Summer Avenue Merchants Association, 2015 - Present
Official Shelby County Historian, 2014 to 2019
Public Records Commission, County of Shelby, Chairman, 2014-2018
West Tennessee Historical Society, Vice President Shelby County, 2014 - 2020
Shelby County Courthouse Restoration Committee, Member, 2014-2019
Shelby County Task Force for Mississippi
River Corridor, Member
West Tennessee Historical Society, Board Member
Sultana Historic Preservation Society, Inc. - Marion, Arkansas (2014-2020)
Citizens To Preserve Overton Park, Board
Member
Save Libertyland/Remember Libertyland, President
Memphis Heritage
Shelby County Historical Commission, Member (2011-2019) & Chairman (2011-2014) &
Parliamentarian (2017-2019)
Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee, Board Member, 2011-2016
Davies Manor Association, Board Member & President, 2013-2019
Delta Everything Southern Conference, Planning Committee Member, 2012
Interests ["Hobby Jobs"] Over The Years:
Scoreboard Graphic Artist & Historian, College Tour X
Starter, Notah Begay III Junior National Golf Program, Southeast Regional
Tournaments
Scoreboard Operator, University of Memphis
Men’s Basketball
Stat Crew, University of Memphis Football
Instructor, Meeman Center For Lifelong Learning, Rhodes College
Scoreboard Graphic Artist, American Junior
Golf Association
Tour Guide, Center City Commission, Downtown
Walking Tours
Member, Citizens To Preserve Overton Park
Actor, Elmwood Cemetery Costume Twilight
Tour
Step-On Guide, Memphis Convention & Visitors
Bureau
New York Times Crossword Society Member
Group
Lecturer
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Recognition
Spelling Champion, Presbyterian Day School,
1964
All-State Basketball (2nd Team), State of
Tennessee, Memphis University School, 1970
Outstanding Leadership in Recreation
Program, First Baptist Church, Memphis, 1979
Recipient of The Parker Brothers Award for
Outstanding Planning and Execution Of A
Recreation Program from the Tennessee Parks
& Recreation Association, 1981
Recipient of Memphis State Recreation
Society Outstanding Alumnus Award, 1986
Recipient of Distinguished Downtowner Award
from Downtowner Magazine, 2001
Recipient of the Darrell A. Ledet Award For
Excellence In Service To The Memphis
Hospitality Industry by the Memphis
Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2003
Recipient of the “Spirit Of Memphis” Award
For Exemplifying the Best in Memphis
Hospitality Industry
by the Memphis
Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2008
(Note: Previous Recipients in the Past 20
Years were Sam Phillips, Larry Finch,
George Klein, Billy Hicks, Jack Belz)
Honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody Hotel -
February 26, 2011
Recipient of 2011 HARCANGEL Award for Exemplifying Unselfish Community Service
from Highland Area Renewal Corporation
Recipient of 2011 Volunteer Of The Year Award from
Memphis Charitable Foundation & The Blues Ball.
Recipient of the 2012 Downtown Memphis Commission Vision Award for Special
Achievement.
Recipient of the Ellen Davies Rodgers Award from the Shelby County Historical
Commission in 2013.
Presented Honorary Lifetime Member Certificate, Blues & Legends Hall of Fame
Museum, Robinsonville, Mississippi – January 14, 2003
Recipient of Recognition with Grateful Appreciation for Service and Dedication
to Presbyterian Day School, Alumni Association Board – 2013-2015
Received "Spirit of 1812 Award" from the National Society United Daughters of
1812 for Distinguished Record of Study, Promotion and Dedication to the
Preservation of the History, People, Places and Events of the War of 1812.
Presented by Piomingo Chapter in 2013
Appointed official Shelby County Historian by the Shelby County Commission -
March 24, 2014
Received the First Star Spangled Banner Award for History in the County of
Shelby, from the Piomingo Chapter of United States Daughters of 1812 - August 6,
2014
Recipient of 2016 Leadership In Historic Preservation Award from Historic
Archives of Rosemark & Environs - August 3, 2016
Recipient of Proclamation from the Tennessee Senate for Years of Service to the
Memphis Community and being named Duckmaster at The Peabody Hotel – October 3,
2016
Recipient of 2017 Excellence In Community Service Award from The National
Society of the Daughters Of The American Revolution - March 25, 2017
Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Support Given to the
Sons of the American Revolution – May 11, 2017
Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to the Furtherment of
Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism, The National Societies of the
Daughters of the American Colonies, Dames of the Court of Honor and New England
Women - November 16, 2017
Recipient of the Ernest and Dorothy Withers Legacy Pioneer Award – February 10,
2018
Recipient of the Descendants Of Early Settlers Of Shelby County And Adjoining
Counties Award with Heartfelt Appreciation for Tireless Efforts to Promote the
Histories of the Region Our Ancestors Settled and Built - August 8, 2018
2018 Recipient of the Key To Downtown Medal from the Downtown Memphis Commission
- October, 26, 2018
Recipient of a Beale Street Brass Note from the Beale Street Brass Note
Committee and Downtown Memphis Commission - November 2, 2018
Recipient of Award from the Memphis Jewish Community Center for Years of
Selfless Service With the Adult Services Department - December 19, 2018
Choice of The Commercial Appeal for Reader Nomination for 2018 Person of
the Year - December 30, 2018
Recipient of Award from Friends and Fans at Food For Thought - "With Fond
Appreciation for Your Dedication and Service to the Greater Memphis Community" -
January 15, 2019
Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation from Memphis Light, Gas & Water in
Recognition of Efforts to Preserve MLGW History - February 20, 2019
Recipient of Legacy Pioneer Award, Dr. Ernest & Dorothy Withers Historical
Photographic
Foundation – February 10, 2019
Recipient of Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to the Furtherment of
Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism, The National Societies of the
Daughters of the American Colonies, Dames of the Court of Honor and New England
Women - February 21, 2019
Recipient of Memphis Living Legends Frances Wright Award for Leadership in
Memphis History, New Sardis Baptist Church - February 24, 2019
Presented Honorary Membership from Piomingo Chapter of the United States
Daughters of 1812 – March 15, 2019
Recipient of Cynthia D. Pitcock Womens History Award for Historically
Significant
Contributions, St. Mary’s Episcopal School – March 19, 2019
Presented Key to Elmwood Cemetery for Volunteer Contribution and Support – April
6, 2019
Presented Lifetime Membership for Countless Hours of Support, Memphis Heritage
– April 10, 2019
Recipient of House Resolution No. 72 from the House of Representatives, State of
Tennessee
for many Contributions to Preserving and Promoting Memphis History – May 6, 2019
Installed onto the Great Players Wall in the Wunderlich Lobby of the Sue H. Hyde
Sports and
Physical Education Center at Memphis University School – June 1, 2019
Recipient of the Dean Campbell Award in Recognition of Community Service, Rotary
Club of
Germantown – June 19, 2019
Presented Key to Shelby County by Mayor Lee Harris - August 7, 2019
Recipient of Shelby County Historian Award, Shelby County Historical Commission
– August 7, 2019
Presented Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, Davies Manor Association - August
7, 2019
Presented Award of Appreciation, South Main Association – August 8, 2019
Recognized as Keynote Speaker for the 2019 Speaker Series, University Club
– October 17, 2019
Received Honorary Membership to the Millington Chamber of Commerce – May, 2021
Received Ida B. Wells Award for Dedicated Service from Ida B. Wells Memorial
Committee – March 28, 2022
Received the Guardian Award from the Chinese Historical Society of Memphis and
the Midsouth at the 150th Anniversary New Year Lunar Banquet - February 5, 2023
Keynote Speaker for the 75th Anniversary Breakfast for Current and Former
Faculty of Presbyterian Day School - August 9, 2023
Keynote Speaker for the 100th Anniversary of the Red Acres Garden Club
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"History is Made" at
Westy's -- May 27,
2015!

JMO1, JBS3, JBS5, JBS4, JMO2, JMO3 (in arms)
That's about 250 years of Jimmy Ogles and Jake Schorrs!
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Duckmaster
THE PEABODY MEMPHIS WELCOMES JIMMY OGLE AS NEW DUCKMASTER
MEMPHIS, TN – September 22, 2016 – The Peabody Memphis’ world-famous mallard
ducks are marching under new leadership today. Memphis historian and tour guide
Jimmy Ogle has stepped into the coveted role of Peabody Duckmaster.
Well-known as a historian, tour
guide, public speaker, story teller and all-around Memphis ambassador, Ogle will
bring his vast knowledge of the region’s history to the role of Duckmaster. In
addition to caring for the hotel’s five North American mallards and leading
their twice-daily marches, he will act as The Peabody’s in-house historian and
work to expand upon the hotel’s History Tours and Memorabilia Collection. As
Duckmaster, Ogle will also continue The Peabody’s Goodwill Ambassador Program of
local community appearances and visits to area schools, retirement villages and
hospitals.
“Because the Duckmaster acts as a
brand ambassador to The Peabody and to the destination by extension, it’s
important that the person who fills that role be someone who is passionate about
Memphis and embraces our unique Southern traditions, such as the Peabody Duck
March. In that regard, we’ve hit the jackpot with Jimmy. He’s our dream
Duckmaster,” said Doug Browne, President, Peabody Hotels & Resorts.
During his lengthy career serving
Memphis, Ogle has held positions at Beale Street Landing, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul
Museum, Performa Entertainment (Beale Street), Memphis Queen Line, Mud Island
River Park, Memphis Parks Commission, and most recently as Community Engagement
Manager for Riverfront Development Corporation. He sits on numerous historical
and heritage boards in the region and is the official Shelby County Historian, a
position appointed by the Shelby County Commission that he will continue to
hold.
Ogle is only the 6th Duckmaster in
the history of the “South’s Grand Hotel.” The role of Duckmaster originated at
The Peabody Memphis more than 80 years ago. The Duckmaster is responsible for
the care and well-being of the Peabody Ducks, including feeding and training the
teams for their marches. When not tending to the five North American mallards,
he acts as an ambassador for the hotel, greeting guests in the Grand Lobby,
conducting Hotel History Tours, doing media interviews, making community
outreach appearances, and occasionally traveling with the ducks to promote the
hotel.
The time-honored tradition of the
March of the Peabody Ducks began in the 1933 when live ducks were placed in the
hotel’s lobby fountain as a practical joke. At 11am each morning, the Peabody
Ducks march from their rooftop Royal Duck Palace - along a red carpet to the
tune of John Philip Sousa’s “King Cotton March” - to a marble fountain at the
center of the Grand Lobby. There they splash and preen until 5pm, when the
procession reverses and the ducks retire for the evening.
The title of Duckmaster was coined
in 1940 when the hotel hired a former circus animal trainer named Edward
Pembroke as a Bellman. Pembroke offered to help with delivering the ducks to the
fountain each day and conceived of the now-famous Peabody Duck March. Mr.
Pembroke served as Peabody Duckmaster for 50 years until retiring in 1991. The
late Mr. Pembroke’s portrait hangs at the entrance to The Peabody and one of the
hotel’s luxury suites is named in his honor.
Kelly B. Earnest
Director of Marketing - Communications
The Peabody Memphis
Phone: 901-529-4000 (O) 901-529-4179 (C) 901-482-7922
www.peabodymemphis.com
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Photo by Steve Roberts |
Jimmy Ogle
Duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel and Vice President of
Shelby County West Tennessee Historical Society
Hometown: Memphis
My Best Quality: Memory
Favorite Place to Travel: Key West
My Most Annoying Habit: I am too literal
My Dream Dinner Guest: James Earl Jones
Who Would Play Me in a Movie: Robert Duvall
Favorite Southern Idiom: The plural of y’all is “all
y’all”
One Goal I’d Still Like to Accomplish: Hit a
hole-in-one
Place I Go to Think: Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Favorite Book: “Pictures Tell The Story” by Ernest
Withers
My First Car: 1968 Cutlass Supreme (No AC, No FM radio)
Best Memphis Hangout: Westy’s, 346 North Main at
Jackson
Favorite Song: “Jimmy Mack” by Martha Reeves & the
Vandellas
Favorite Restaurant in Memphis: (Old) Coletta’s on
South Parkway
My Favorite Thing to Eat in Memphis: Filet at
Mortimer’s Restaurant
Favorite Spot in Memphis: My green chair in my sitting
room at home
The Highlight of My Day: Waking up and being able to
start a new day fresh
The Best Part of My Job: Greeting people from all over
the world in the Lobby of The Peabody Memphis
Proudest Moment of My Life: (Tie) – The day that my son
got married, and the births of my two grandchildren
Advice I’d Give My 20-year-old Self: Buy as early as
possible and stay in the same house as long as possible |
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Jimmy Ogle Appointed Shelby County Historian

November 6, 2011 - Jimmy Ogle, a walking
encyclopedia of Memphis history and lore,
stands in a flower pot
on Main Street while giving a tour
along November 6th Street through downtown Memphis.
Roughly 120 people strolled
with him on the free,
three-hour, walking tour that traveled from Beale Street to Shadyac Avenue in the Pinch District.
Photo by
Mike Brown
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Memphis
Commercial Appeal-Mar 24, 2014 - Shelby County
Commissioners on Monday selected Jimmy Ogle, chairman of the
Shelby County Historical Commission, to serve as the county
historian for the next six years. Ogle, 61, was among three nominated and was head-to-head
with 31-year-old Lauren Beaupre, whose youth some
commissioners thought would bring a fresh perspective on the
position, in the second round of voting. Beaupre received four votes on the first round, and Ogle
received five votes. Charles Crawford, 82, received two
votes in the first round. On the second round of voting,
Ogle received nine votes and Beaupre received four votes.
Memphis Daily News-Mar 24, 2014 - The Shelby County
Commission has appointed Jimmy Ogle, chairman of the Shelby
County Historical Commission, as the new county historian.
Ogle, who is also general manager of Beale Street Landing
and the Riverfront Development Corp., serves a six-year term
in the unpaid position. Ogle was selected Monday, March 24, in a process in which
University of Memphis history professor Charles Crawford and
Faith Christian Academy teacher Lauren Beaupre, who has also
been a fellow at the Tennessee Center for Historic
Preservation, were nominated. Ogle, who succeeds the late Ed
Williams, is only the third person to hold the position of
county historian and the first to serve with a specific term
of office. |

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RDC Deepens Cultural Resources with the
Addition of Jimmy Ogle

One of Memphis’ most well known advocates for local history and culture, Jimmy
Ogle has joined the staff of the Riverfront Development Corporation as a
Community Engagement Manager. His responsibilities will include the development
of new ways for people to connect with one of our city’s greatest assets — the
Mississippi River.
Mr. Ogle will be involved primarily in program development. The first
phase of his efforts will involve launching a new incarnation of his
popular walking tour program and establishing a riverfront speakers’ bureau.
Over the last 25 years, Jimmy has served in leadership positions with the
Memphis Park Commission, Mud Island River Park, the Memphis Queen Line, Beale
Street, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and the Memphis Convention and Visitors
Bureau. He has also played instrumental roles in a long list of community
organizations (including the West Tennessee Historical Society, Memphis
Heritage, the Center City Commission, Memphis in May and The Cotton Museum), and
has emerged as one of the city’s foremost authorities on Memphis’ cultural
assets and heritage.
“The story of our riverfront is amazingly fascinating and always evolving,” said
Benny Lendermon, RDC’s President.
“I can’t think of anyone better to share that story than Jimmy.”
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Downtown
Memphis Commission 2012 Downtown Vision Awards
On September 27
at its annual gathering, the Downtown Memphis Commission honored Jimmy O with a 2012 Vision Award "Special Merit" for his efforts in giving Talks
and Tours.
 Other awards were given to Robert McGowan & Annie Mahaffey, Jason Wexler
and The University Of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.
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Jimmy Ogle: Downtown Vision Award for Special Achievement

Do you know where
November 6th Street gets its name? Or how many manhole
covers are in Downtown? Jimmy Ogle can tell you! Nobody in
Memphis knows the stories of our streets, sidewalks,
buildings, characters, spaces and colorful history better
than our affable urban history jock Jimmy Ogle.
With keen
fascination he is constantly on the hunt for new facts and
clues to our past. Jimmy has spent years capturing and
chronicling our city's stories, and what's more, eagerly
sharing them with thousands of locals and visitors through
walking tours, presentations and educational programs. Never
boring, his energetic tours bring life to Downtown's brick
and mortar, giving spirit and a connection to the city. By
getting citizens to understand and know their neighborhoods,
Jimmy is creating an army of ambassadors for Memphis and
better citizens.
Beyond his role
as urban historian, Jimmy is the Community Engagement
Manager at Riverfront Development Corporation and has
managed several Downtown organizations like Mud Island River
Park, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, Memphis Parks Commission
and Memphis Queen Line. |
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HARC
HARCANGEL Award Presented at
Annual Highland Area Renewal Corporation Banquet
At
the second annual HARC Community Banquet on August 18 at St. Luke United
Methodist Church's gymnasium, Jimmy O was one of 18 individuals who received a
HARCANGEL Award for Exemplifying Unselfish Service to the Community. Penny
Hardaway was the keynote speaker and over 350 neighborhood residents were in
attendance. St. Luke's Pastor Mark Matheny penned and read the following words
(his fourth ode this year about Jimmy O) from a script for Jimmy O's acceptance:
"Our next HARCANGEL stands out in Neighborhood History Chronicling, not only in
this Community, but City-wide.
Since he loves Rhyming, his Description comes via these Verses:

At Scorers' Table For Tiger Games, In Neighborhoods And Taking Names,
Exploring Storm Drains, Finding A Story, There's One Not Seeking Any Glory,
Who Deserves Angelic Praise, Or In The Least, Our Voice We Raise,
For Jimmy Ogle - It's No Rumor - Hurrah For His Work And Sense Of Humor!
Penny Hardaway Stands with Jimmy, Ready to Correct Any Past Mistakes in Tiger
Scoring!"
While making the
"University Of
Memphis:
Know Your Neighborhood,
Part One" presentation to a group of
leaders and residents of the six
neighborhoods surrounding the UM
Campus at St. Luke's United
Methodist Church on January
23rd, Mary Clyde McKnight came
forward to ask me to include on
this web site the announcement
that the
Highland
Area Renewal Corporation
(HARC)
Community Garden is
moving from its current site at
the former Highland Street
Church of Christ parking lot
further south down Highland
Street to the rear of the
Knights Of Columbus Catholic
Club, 707 South Highland Street.
The HARC Community Garden is
in need of mulch, leaves, coffee
grounds, manure, cinder blocks,
jugs, and even donations.
For more information, call HARC
at St. Luke's at 452-6262.
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Jimmy O
Elected 7th Chairman of the
Shelby County Historical
Commission
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Shelby County Historical Commission |
The
Shelby County Historical
Commission (SCHC) was
created in 1965 by the Shelby
County Quarterly Court to assist
the Shelby County Historian to
collect, assemble, preserve,
record, and to publish
information and other material
concerning all matters of
history and biography for Shelby
County, Tennessee. The SCHC
shall also promote the study of
the history of Shelby County in
the schools and in other
appropriate forums and shall
erect historical markers
throughout the county as funding
is made available.
Previous Chairmen of the SCHC
were Ellen Davies Rogers, Dr.
Charles Crawford, Ed Williams
III, Dr. Doug Cupples, Paul
Matthews and G. Lee Millar.
There have been two Shelby
County Historians (a lifetime
appointment) - Ellen Davies
Rogers (1965-1997) and Ed
Williams III (1997-present).
Shelby County Mayor Mark
Luttrell has a keen interest in
history and has re-invigorated
the SCHC with 23 new appointees
in 2011. Jimmy has made new
committee assignments (Finance,
Heritage/Military, Markers,
Awards, Historical Properties,
Social Media and Books &
Authors) and the SCHC members
will be meeting during the
Summer months formulating
missions and ideas preparing for
a new year which begins in
September.
The
Shelby County Historical
Commission meets monthly on
the fourth Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
at the
Shelby County Archives building,
980 Nixon Road (in the
northwest Shelby Farms area near
Mullins Station Road and the
Greenline). Meetings are open to
the public.
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