MILWAUKEE — At the age of 95, Jame Beckum passed away on Nov. 11, leaving a lasting legacy on the city of Milwaukee and beyond.
Beckum, a Milwaukee native and the founder of the Beckum-Stapleton Little League, spent more than five decades coaching and working with young athletes.
What You Need To Know
- James Beckum, a Milwaukee native and the founder of the Beckum-Stapleton Little League, spent more than five decades coaching and working with young athletes
- For Beckum, the league was never just about baseball. It was about fostering character and creating opportunities
- At just 19-years-old, he launched Running Rebels, a youth organization that began as a basketball league and grew into a mentorship program
- Through his leadership, Beckum helped countless players compete at high school, collegiate and professional levels
Victor Barnett, executive director of Running Rebels, remembered meeting Beckum as a 15-year-old. Barnett played in the Beckum-Stapleton Little League, a program that provided thousands of young men the opportunity to play baseball while learning discipline, teamwork and self-respect.
For Beckum, the league was never just about baseball. It was about fostering character and creating opportunities.
“He was a special person to me,” said Barnett. “He was very inspiring. He would find out ways to bring out the best in a young person.”
Barnett said Beckum had a remarkable ability to make every child feel seen and valued, no matter how many players passed through the program.
“He knew things about me as a person,” said Barnett. “It just amazed me. So many thousands of young people he interacted with and for him to know that I needed to strengthen my arm. I could play really good, but I need to strengthen my arm. It just touched me and amazed me to know that this man who helped so many knew personal things about me and sometimes struggles I was going through and being there for me.”
Beckum’s influence left such a mark on Barnett that, at just 19-years-old, he launched Running Rebels, a youth organization that began as a basketball league and grew into a mentorship program.
Running Rebels continues to support Milwaukee youth with everything from athletics to navigating the juvenile justice system.
“To be able to be around Mr. Beckum the way I was helped me realize what I wanted to do moving forward,” said Barnett.
Through his leadership, Beckum helped countless players compete at high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Barnett, inspired by Beckum’s example, saw similar success stories emerge from Running Rebels.
Beckum’s name became synonymous with Milwaukee’s north side, where a park was named in his honor. For decades, young athletes played on the fields he helped create, carrying forward the lessons and values he instilled.
“It started with Mr. Beckum and look what he did,” said Barnett. “I feel like I started Running Rebels, but now it’s a whole bunch of people fighting the same fight to save lives.”
