A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Jim Ewing served as a reconnaissance photographer in the Royal Air Force before coming to Howard Payne in 1963. He developed a love for distance running during his service and represented the RAF in the 400 hurdles and mile run in Europe. After meeting another Scotsman, Bill Thomas, who was running for Howard Payne, Ewing joined him. As a freshman, he helped lead Howard Payne to the NAIA Cross Country National Championship. He was Howard Payne’s top finisher in second place. Ewing was Lone Star Conference champion in the mile run four consecutive years and holds the LSC meet record in the 2-mile run. In his senior year in 1967, conference coaches voted him Outstanding Track Man. He was a six-time NAIA All-American – four in cross country and twice in track in the 1,500 meters. After graduating, Ewing won the 2-mile run in the U.S. Track and Field Federation Indoor Championships. He earned a master’s degree in English from Rice University and then returned to Howard Payne as a professor. While teaching he served as distance running coach. Ewing continued to run while teaching at Howard Payne, winning the inaugural San Antonio Marathon, Mississippi State Marathon, and other 10K races. He completed his Ph.D. in 1977 at Texas A&M University. He then went on to teach for several years at Mississippi College and Fresno City College in California.