James Yancey was inducted into the Florida State Golf Association’s Hall of Fame during their Annual Dinner held at the Country Club of Ocala in Ocala on November 20, 2009.
James Yancey was born October 3, 1927 in Tallahassee, the fourth of ten children. He learned to play golf at the city-owned Tallahassee Country Club where he caddied while his father was City Manager. Jim received a football scholarship to the University of Florida, and played on both the football and the golf team. In 1949, Jim captained 
the University of Florida’s first unbeaten season and first SEC golf championship team. He won the Tallahassee Open in 1950.
Jim turned professional in 1951 and became club pro / general manager at Tipton Country Club. Jim was a teacher to touring professionals Frank Beard, Tom Wieskoff, Bruce Devlon, Tony Jacklin, and his brother, Bert Yancey. Jim organized junior golf programs, provided free lessons for beginners, and worked diligently to advance junior golf tournaments.
In 1970, Jim moved to Ocala to become the head professional and club manager of the two Ocala Municipal golf courses. Over the next 22 years, he was devoted to junior golf, providing affordable summer junior programs, free golf lessons to juniors, and weekly tournaments for all age groups. He coached the Forest boys High School team to 14 district titles and two state championships. Under his leadership, the Henry N. Camp Invitational and the Doug Oswald Seniors tournaments grew in prestige.
