James Arthur Fleming was born on August 26, 1951, and had a standout basketball career at Michigan City High School, in 
Michigan City, Indiana. His height, standing at 6’6”, and long reach made him a formidable opponent who played a pivotal role in his team’s success at the high school level. 
     This carried over to a basketball scholarship at Oakland City University. As a member of the Mighty Oaks men’s basketball team from 1970 through 1974, James Fleming accumulated a total that no other Mighty Oak has equalled, as his 2,402 career points is a mark that stands above any other name in the OCU record book. His most recent challenge came from Andrew Scott, who 
graduated in 2019 as the only other men’s player to eclipse 2,000 career points, finishing with 2,175. 
     It took until the 2019-2020 season for his single-season scoring mark of 718 counters, set during Fleming’s sophomore campaign, to be broken when then-senior Tyler Toopes surpassed Fleming’s record by four. 
     Fleming also holds the third highest single season scoring 
average of 25.6 points during his sophomore season, passed only by Toopes, who averaged 25.8 in 2019-2020, as well as Larry Harris, who set the record at 26.0 as a senior in 1970-71. 
     He hauled in the single season record for rebounds during his junior year, nabbing 496, a record that still stands. However, his career total number was not saved from the 1986 fire that 
destroyed many of the records when Memorial Gymnasium burned to the ground. But his total surely stands in the top 10, if not top five, of all time.
     After completing his time at Oakland City, Fleming returned home to Michigan City, where he joined the Moose Lodge, 
playing in various basketball leagues in and around the city. 
     George Fleming, Jim’s younger brother, also was a standout basketball player for the Mighty Oaks, and was inducted into the OCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
     Bowling became one of his 
favorite hobbies, one in which he excelled. He bowled in a number of leagues and tournaments, receiving a ring for bowling a perfect game.
     His work history consisted of working as a parole officer for more than a decade, followed by a job with the Michigan City Housing Authority as a master maintenance worker. He also served as a griever for his co-workers in the union. 
     Fleming passed away on February 6, 2011, in Michigan City. He and his wife Bobbie had three daughters, Tasha, Tiffany, and Heather, as well as two sons, James II and Justin.