Funny way back in 1965, I guess, I first met Terry Jackson when we were both on the winter track team. I was a freshman, and he was a senior. You can imagine there really wasn’t that much interaction between seniors and freshmen. Right away I knew he was a force to be reckoned with. He and his buds Albie and Tommy were the stars of the show- deservedly so. By this time all three had made their mark in high school sports in Sayville. So here’s part of Terry’s story.
His story is a story of family. His mom and dad, Kenneth and Pauline, were God-fearing church-going people. His father can trace their roots back to Bayshore.N.Y., 1875, and his father James Jackson. Going back further in ancestry only leads to James’ unknown parents living in Virginia before 1875. Terry’s mom Pauline traces her ancestry to the Shinnecock Indian Tribes back to 1825 in Southampton, N.Y.
Terry’s dad, Kenneth, just like his grandfather, had a large family. Terry had 11brothers and sisters. Every one of his siblings attended and graduated from Sayville High School.
It would take me many months to investigate half of the athletic accomplishments of Terry and his family in Sayville High Athletics. Terry and his family were involved in so many sports teams and organizations in Sayville, it’s just amazing.
From the little league to the boys’ club-from elementary school through high school. This family of athletes excelled in Cross-country, Track and Field, Football, Soccer, basketball, and baseball. It seems Terry’s family touched and took part in every imaginable sporting team in Sayville.
We knew Terry for his Winter and Spring- Track and Field performances. He also made a mark in football.
Terry excelled in the triple jump, broad jump, high jump, and sprints. He was a part of 1966,1967,&1968. Sayville league championship teams. Notably a record-breaking relay medley team, triple jump and long jump performances.
Terry was very talented and sadly had to realize he wasn’t a one-man team and had to pick his best events to concentrate. Terry was a great sprinter and could out jump the best of them.
Football was also a sport Terry excelled. Starting on the JV team in 1965, Terry proved to be a talented running back and defensive player. He moved on to the varsity in 1966, that year giving a notable performance. His senior year 1967 football is kind of a mystery. Starting with a team in late summer. Then dropping off the team at the beginning of September. And then rejoining the team in late October. Sadly, this seemed to hamper his performance that year.
Notably, Terry’s brothers Skip and David were also on many Sayville championship teams.
After high school, Terry joined the Air Force. He served as a sergeant in Belgium and Vietnam. He followed a long tradition of family military service. Starting with his dad who served in the Navy during WWII, his bothers- Skip also Air Force, a Vietnam vet, and his brother Darren following in his dad’s footsteps in the Navy.
After his time in the service, Terry returned to Sayville and started working with his dad. Jackson and Sons construction, this is where he learned his construction trade. Honing his skills, he remained a master builder and general contractor throughout his life. Hard work was a part of his life and passed this on to his children. “Always measure twice and cut once”, “work hard now, play later”!
Terry married Monica; they had 34 years of a happy, loving marriage. Today, 13 years later, Monica still carries the memories of her beloved husband.
Terry and Monica have three children; Brooke, Terence, and Darcel. Twelve grandchildren, they carry on the amazing story of this family.
Terry lived an amazing life of family, sports, love of music and dance, military service, and hard work.
Your hometown of Sayville is proud of you.
Thank you for your contribution to the fabric of Sayville!
Monica shared this about Terry-
“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again,” M. Angelou
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