He taught me that if you are to do a job, you do it once and you do it right or you might as well stay home, sit on your ass and get out of his way.
He would get up every morning at God knows what time and get breakfast at Jupiter's IHOP, go to the shop, cut all the duct we needed for the day, load up all the equipment, make a material list for the next job, drink 15 coffees and be pacing back and forth waiting for me to show up at 6:50am.
You would get in the work truck and he would drive like a bat out of hell to grab another 24oz coffee and get to our job. Most people at this time would stretch their legs and get warmed up for the day, not Jimmy he was out and going and would not stop till the job was done or when it was time to go home.
Jimmy never cut a corner or try to "rig" something. It was done strong, right and up to code. ALWAYS.
Jim was a one of a kind, his beard was 2 foot long and his hair just as long. I never saw him without a bandanna.
He used to take his dog into Denny's for breakfast on Sundays and when they would not let him bring the dog in he would buy a breakfast for the dog and bring it out to her to eat and bring the plate back in.
He was one of the best cursers I have ever met, he could put a string of profanity together that was like a symphony orchestra, even people who did not swear would get a chuckle out of the variety and way it would come from his mouth, it was music to my ears.
Never ever cared what people thought of him. He was a true free spirit and a true hippy. That was his nickname and that is what most people knew him as. "The Hippy"
Hippy passed away last night in his sleep, I have not seen him in 7 or 8 years now and I will miss him dearly. He was a very, very special man. Rest in peace brother, rest in peace.
With a tear on my cheek,
Tim
