Jim died November 20, 2013, in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born April 8, 1935, in Neosho, MO, and attended Pittsburg schools and graduated from Pittsburg High School.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school and served in Japan and Korea. Jim graduated from Kansas State with a bachelor's and a Master's from the University of Tulsa.

After college Jim spent over 23 years as a petroleum geologist engaged in international exploration. While at Phillips Petroleum he served as Staff Director of International Ventures and participated in the Glomar Challenger Deep Sea Drilling Program.

Later he returned and served on the staff of Pittsburg State University until his retirement in 2003.

Jim jumped the 1957 season at McCall.