James F. Goodwin, Jr., one of six children, was born in Kingston, Georgia, March 30, 1905, to Anna Sledge Goodwin and James F. Goodwin, Sr. He attended elementary school in Rome, Georgia and at the age of 12 moved with his parents north and settled in Steelton, PA. He continued grammar school and graduated from Steelton High School in 1924. Jimmy or “Brownie” as he was known, was determined to go on to school and study medicine, so off he went to Howard University in Washington, D.C. September 1924. Of course no one believed that he was going to college because he only had enough money to last approximately a month. While in college he applied for scholarship aid through various sources and all of them refused, stating that due to their constitution he did not meet the requirements. It was this experience which inspired him to start a scholarship club which could and would help deserving Negro students who needed financial assistance.
James entered the college of Liberal Arts in 1924, graduated in 1934 from Howard University, Washington, D.C., (10 years), and served his internship at St. Louis, Missouri.
In September, 1935 he opened his office as a general practitioner in Bethlehem, PA
The J. F. Goodwin Scholarship Club was founded in 1935 by Dr. J. F. Goodwin, who saw a great need in the Negro community of Bethlehem. Along with practicing medicine, he preached a gospel of education beyond high school to equip young people to meet the challenges of life. In 1940, Dr. Goodwin moved to Reading, PA where he continued his work with young Negro students, people and founded the sister club. During this period he married Elizabeth Waters. Dr. Goodwin found the time through the years to remain active in both clubs. He practiced medicine until his illness forced him to retire and he departed this life on March 28, 1973.