NEW YORK, NY – Professor James Franklin Sharp is a 1954 graduate of Chester High School in Chester, Illinois, who lives and works in New York City. New Professor Sharp Library & Media Center at CHS has been named after him because of his generosity to CHS and his impressive achievements. He says that in the past he has joked to his employees, saying “Be sure to save every book and article I have written, and every article written about me, because I may want to put them in my library.” Some of his joking may come true because a special Professor Sharp Section is planned for the New Professor Sharp Library & Media Center.
Professor Sharp has made donations to Chester High School every year since 2001, that now total more than $600,000. These annual donations are mainly for Annual Special Teaching Activities at CHS. But, some of each annual donation is for three annual Sharp College Scholarships for CHS graduating Seniors. These three annual Sharp College Scholarships honor his late father, Jake Sharp, his late mother, Edna Sharp, and his sister, Rosanna Sharp Myers. Professor Sharp has returned to give Graduation talks at Chester Grade School in 2000, 2010, and 2020 (virtual), and also at Chester High School in 2004, 2014, and 2024 (planned).
Professor Sharp has previously been recognized by Chester High School with the Professor Sharp Bench (in photo) in front of Colbert Gymnasium and the Professor Sharp Cafeteria & Entrance Lobby just inside the front entrances to Colbert Gymnasium. New Professor Sharp Library & Media Center is next to Colbert Gymnasium, and considerable improvements are planned.
The impetus for the naming of the New Professor Sharp Library & Media Center came from Chester High School English/Language Arts teacher Mrs. Sara Hammel and the students in her English 4 class. They had a class project of trying to expand and enhance the library & media center, but they realized this required funds. Mrs. Hammel learned that some funds from the Annual Special Teaching Activities Donations made by Professor Sharp might be available. They wondered who Professor Sharp was, and this caused Mrs. Hammel and her class to do some research to know more about him. Included as part of their research was a Zoom Q & A Meeting between Chester High School and Professor Sharp in New York City, where the English 4 students asked him questions. In their research Mrs. Hammel and her English 4 students learned about Professor Sharp’s donations to Chester High School of more than $600,000, and his impressive achievements. They decided it would be appropriate to name the New Professor Sharp Library & Media Center after him. Chester High School Principal Jeremy Blechle, Chester Community Schools Superintendent Kimberly Briggs, and Chester Community School District 139 Board all agreed.
Professor Sharp has also received special recognition from the three Colleges he attended:
SIU at Carbondale: Completed Pre-Engineering Program.
Major recognition planned to be announced later in 2023, including Membership in SIU Chancellor’s Council.
University of Illinois: BSIE degree.
Recognized as Illinois Outstanding Alumnus, and Membership in Illinois President’s Council.
Purdue University: MSIE & PhD degrees.
Recognized as Purdue Outstanding Alumnus, and Membership in Purdue President’s Council.
Professor Sharp was a professor at three colleges:
Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, at Rutgers University.
Associate Professor of Quantitative Methods, at New York University Stern Graduate School of Business.
Full Professor of Finance & Investments, at Pace University Lubin Graduate School of Business.
He had management positions at AT&T in Internal Consulting, Corporate Planning, and Financial Analysis.
Professor Sharp then founded Sharp Seminars In NY, that became a leading provider of training for Wall Street Investment Analysts, and Investment Portfolio Managers.
Professor Sharp has written 36 books related to investing and has had many articles published. He has achieved the following professional designations: CFA, CIPM, CMA, CFM, Mensa. He has been President of Professional Organizations, and has given talks to local, national, and international organizations, including NYC Government Organizations. More than 100 articles have been written about him.