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Jim was a member of the SMW High School band and I believe he played the saxaphone. He attended KU after graduating high School majoring in Psychology and got his Bachelor's degree in 1973. He worked for social services in Kansas City Missouri and retired from there 2010 I believe and was looking forward to drawing his Social Security in June of 2013!! But Pancreatic cancer is what took Jim from us. He went in for emergency surgery on a Tuesday morning which the doctors gave him very little chance of surviving but then when he did they gave him six months to live but that did not happen, he passed the following Tuesday. Jim was an avid sports fan for all the Kansas City teams and especially his Kansas Jayhawks. Jim was basically the quiet type but would show his enthusiasm when his teams did something good and he was one of the first persons to jump out of his chair and shout for joy when Mario Chalmers hit the three pointer against Memphis to tie & put the 2008 NCAA Championship game into overtime and then go on to win the Championship. Jim watched every game of the Kansas City Chiefs and also his Kansas Jayhawks with myself, my twin brother, Randy Smith and friend s he made by watching the games at Birdie's at 75th and Antioch in Overland Park. But when he started missing games in the late summer and early fall 2012 and winter of 2013 we knew something was wrong and that was because of his pancreatic cancer. Jim liked all types of music but especially early rock and roll. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, Bob Dylan. Linda Rondstadt and Emmy Lou Harris these were just a few of his favorites. He was a mystery buff as well and liked reading them as well as watching on TV and in movies. James Bond, Charley's Angels, Ellery Queen, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Hawaii Five O, Streets of San Francisco, Miami Vice, The Tokein series Lord of The Rings, Baretta, Then came Bronson, Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Honey West, and The Avengers. These were just some of his favorites. I know I will miss Jim and am sure other allumni will as well !! I don't have access to a picture of Jim but am working on it !! |
