A Tribute By His Son Toby

Yesterday I sat by my fathers side and held his hand as he left this world. I am both relieved and saddened. Relieved because his hard fought battle with cancer of almost two years is over and he is not suffering and in pain any longer. Saddened because not only did the world lose a great man, and I lost my father but I lost my best friend. He served his country joining the army when he was a teenager and retiring from the Air Force. When he retired from the service he served the citizens of the state of Alabama developing programs to assist law enforcement.

He served his family marrying my mother in 1960 and loving her two sons as they were his own giving them his last name. My father loved his family and did what ever he had to to make sure they were taken care of and their needs were met. This meant working two jobs at times along with being at the other functions in a child's life. I know it wasn't easy being a father to five children some of us just as hard headed as he was, but he never gave up on us, no matter what he didn't give up. Sure he would let us fall and scrape our knees but he was always right behind us and would pick us up brush us off, and give us a big bear hug and tell us he loved us.

My father not only taught me how to be a plumber, a carpenter, a mechanic, an electrician and how not to drywall he taught me about life. He would always tell me if it was worth doing, it was worth doing right and that you fought for what you believed in and he believed in me and I know that was not an easy fight. I was not the easiest kid to raise and I know I tried his patience. I am sure there were days and nights that he placed his head in his hands and cried because he didn't know how to help me. But never ever gave up on me. Never!

We will say our final goodbyes Monday but tonightI I will raise my glass and toast my father. A man that may not have been perfect but loved his family unconditionally. A man that was there through it all and no matter what made sure we were taken care of. Here's to you daddy, I miss you more then you can imagine and you will forever be in my heart. Love you and miss you

"Your Baby Boy"326
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Jim stands 6’ 4” tall.327
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He joined the Army in 1946 when underaged and just 15 years old. He served for a year and a half. After separating from the Army he earned his private pilot's license and joined the Navy Reserve. In 1954 he enlisted in the Air Force. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years retiring as a Master Sergeant (E-7) in 1976.

While in the Air Force he was assigned to Sampson A.F.B. for his induction.

Keesler A.F.B. in Mississippi

1955 - Osan, Korea at "K-55." He arrived there by ship from San Francisco via Yokohama, Japan.

1956 -1957 - Mchord A.F.B., Tacoma, WA

1958 - Saskatoon Mountain A.F.B. in Alberta, Canada. While he was on duty there an Air Force Beaver aircraft flying out of the base on a rescue mission crashed nearby.

Feb 1959 - Charleston, WV, the closest he served to his home.

1960 - Montgomery, AL for 3 1/2 years.

1963-1968 - Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, CO where he was with the group that built NORAD and the Space Defense Center. It was there where he got into computer programming and worked with the Philco 1000 computer system. Before that time he worked in radar and was a "scope dope." He was in Colorado Springs for 5 1/2 years.

Jim would go on to serve at Nakon Phenom Airbase in Thailand and later at Eglin A.F.B. in Florida where he was with "Task Force Alpha." The group dropped seismic detectors along the Ho Chi Minh trail in North Vietnam and through that system could detect troop and vehicle movement.

He also was assigned duty in Little Rock, AK.

After his time in the military he moved to Montgomery, AL, where his wife Susan is from. He settled there and took employment with the Alabama State Police as a "Project Leader for the Law Enforcement Data System which was a part of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information System.” He retired from that position on 1 Jan 1995 when 65 years old.179
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During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1961 he was In Montgomery Alabama.179
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Your grandfather is my cousin. And although we have been separated by many miles and years, like my other cousins of your family I have many fond memories of him.

My mother Maxine, his aunt, always talked about Jim's big hugs. I guess he was well-known for that. In so many ways he was a giant of a man and lived a life of many accomplishments.

I am truly saddened to hear of his passing. Although expected it is still a bitter pill to swallow. I do find comfort in knowing that we will again be reunited. I have no doubt about that. It is a great sense of loss we all must bear but his is a wondrous gain indeed.

My thoughts of love to you and our extended family as we lose yet another.328