>From the 1937 Tel-Buch: James W. Aiken was born in Ohio County, West Virginia, May 26, 1899. He attended grade school in Tiltonville, Ohio, and high school at Martins Ferry, Ohio. It was at Martins Ferry High School that "Jimmy" first showed signs of athletic prowess. During his four years of high school, "Jimmy" Aiken played two years of basketball, four years of baseball, four years of football, and participated in track four years. In his senior year he was honored with the captaincy of both the football, and the track teams. Before being graduated in 1918, "Jimmy" was named to an honorary left end position, three years in a row, on the mythical All-Ohio Valley selections. He entered Washington and Jefferson College in the fall of 1918, and there played four years of football and two years of baseball. In 1921 he was a member of the W & J team that went to the Rose Bowl. "Jimmy" Aiken's record is an impressive one. Before coming to the University of Akron, Coach Aiken's fourteen year coach-record boasts 121 football games won, 16 games lost, and two games tied. His first year record with the Zippers was six games won, two lost, and one tied. p. 72 of the University of Akron yearbook, Tel-Buch, 1937