July 11 dubbed ‘Jack Madison Day’ in honor of 100-year-old Coast veteran and volunteer
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- Biloxi declared July 11, 2025, as 'Jack Madison Day' to honor his centennial.
- Madison volunteered over 30 years at Ship Island, guiding tours at Fort Massachusetts.
- The WWII and Korean War veteran championed national parks and civic engagement.
Dozens gathered Friday morning on Ship Island to celebrate Jack Madison’s 100th birthday, with Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich proclaiming July 11, 2025, as “Jack Madison Day.”
Madison gave his final tour of Fort Massachusetts in October 2024 after over 30 years of volunteering on Ship Island and the Davis Bayou Area.
“I always wanted to be a volunteer, and this gave me the opportunity,” Madison said. “I’m rich, but I don’t mean monetarily. This is a good example of friendship.”
Born and raised in Biloxi, the World War II and Korean War veteran dedicated his life to bettering the Coast and preserving national parks such as Ship Island. In 2011, the National Park Service awarded Madison the Southeast Region Volunteer-In-Parks Award.
“He’s a very fine individual,” Captain Louis Skrmetta, CEO of Ship Islands Excursions, said. “One of the finest people I’ve ever known in my life, actually.”
Madison was presented with an official proclamation, signed by Mayor Gilich, designating the day in recognition of his service.
“The City of Biloxi proudly recognizes Jack Madison’s century of life, his deep roots in our community, and the lasting impact of his contributions to our city, our nation, and all who have had the privilege to know him,” Mayor Gilich said in the proclamation.
Jack Madison
Former NPS Chief of Interpretation Gail Bishop said she first interacted with Madison in 1986 through a string of volunteer applications for Ship Island.
“He had applied for a volunteer position, and he was persistent,” Bishop said. “I was busy, but he was persistent.”
Madison was hired, and every Thursday morning after that, he rode the ferry to Ship Island with Skrmetta at the helm.
From their love of national parks to historical anecdotes about Civil War, U.S. Navy officer David Glasgow Farragut, Madison and Skrmetta found it easy to relate to each other.
“Jack would travel to national parks all over the country and share his stories with me,” Skrmetta said. “We just became really close in that regard.”
Bishop described Madison as a ‘Renaissance man’ — he’s skilled in winemaking, an expert on chocolate chip cookies, an amateur photographer, a wood carver, a historian and a traveler.
“He’s a man of many interests and talents,” Bishop said. “That’s what I have enjoyed about knowing him.”
Skrmetta enjoyed listening to Madison share stories from his service in World War II and the Korean War.
“In the late 1930s he actually owned an Indian motorcycle, and later on, a Harley Davidson motorcycle,” Skrmetta said.
Skrmetta said Madison met his wife, Marilee, between the two conflicts. The couple was married for nearly 70 years, until Marilee’s passing in April 2024.
“He had the perfect partner all those years,” Skrmetta said. “She taught history at Biloxi High School, so you could imagine the book collection they had in their house. It was unbelievable.”
Fort Massachusetts Tours
Madison gave about four tours of Ship Island every Thursday alongside Ship Island volunteer Charles Clark. While Madison took the lead in the lower level of Fort Massachusetts, Clark provided visitors with a historical experience on the upper level.
“He cared a great deal about what he was doing,” Clark said. “He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Ship Island.”
“Being a volunteer for as long as I have — it was my fountain of youth and something to look forward to each day,” Madison said.
At the end of every tour, Madison read a letter written by Lt. Col. H.W. Allen and left behind by Confederate forces for the Union upon their evacuation of the island in 1861.
“Jack would read that word for word at the end of his tour and sometimes he would actually tear up,” Skrmetta said.
“I remember not just being impressed by his knowledge, but also by his demeanor and his conduct,” John Bernsteil, Gulf Islands National Seashore supervisory park ranger, said.
Clark said he looks forward to continuing Madison’s legacy on Ship Island.
“I hope to continue to emulate Jack as best I can,” Clark said. “The best way I can think of to thank Jack for what he imparted to me is to continue doing the best I can.”
“It’s an honor to have known him all these years,” Skrmetta said. “I look up to him.”
Madison said he hopes more people will invest their time in supporting national parks.
“Our parks are in trouble, deep trouble,” Madison said. “For decades, they’ve been underfunded and undermanned. Volunteers have helped to make them what they are today.”
