Richard Newman Ward (1966)

Jim and I were very good friends.  We met in the 8th grade.  He lived in the same neighborhood and we played jv basketball together.  Each day after practice we would ride the athletic bus and when dropped off , we would walk the mile together to our houses.  Jim got me interested in shooting pool and in the summers and other free times we would walk or ride bikes over observatory mountain to the university billards and pool hall on the uva corner.  We also went to many 1960's concerts at memorial gym.  Jim very interested in surfing and became quite good.  (he was into surfing even before the Beach Boys became popular) He attended college in Florida and one day when he riding his bike to the beach for another fun day of surfing he was struck and killed by a drunk driver.  I still think of Jim from time to time and remember the great times we had together.  THANKS JIM FOR ALL THE FUN TIMES WE HAD TOGETHER.. submitted by Dick Ward

James Baker Wynne (1966)

I had sent a message to Dick Ward about Jim. Jim and his  brother Bill and parents live across from me on Pantops. we would often get together and play football while in elementary school. He was big into Go Karts. We use to go to McIntire Park to drive/race them. They were fast. I was not sure when they moved over close to Dick Ward. As when we went to Albemarle, I think his brother or parents took him to school when they lived on Pantops area. There were 2 buses that came down Pantops to go to Albemarle. I dont remember seeing Jim on them. I could have been that Jim and his family had moved close to where Dick lived. I was thinking that at that time Dick lived over in Meadowbook Heights area. I might be wrong. Anyway, after high school and after college, I entered the sporting goods business and part of my territory was VA. In the late 70's I was in Va. Beach and pulled into Esso/Exxon gas station just off of Atlantic Ave. I noticed Jim's name above the door entrance. He was the owner/manger of the station.I got out of my car and say him coming towards the pumps. He had the blond hair surfer look. Still the super nice person he had always been. I had stopped by a couple of times, then I came by onetime and I did not see his name over the door. I got out and asked one of the workers about Jim. He said he was riding his motorcycle and was hit by a car and died. That was shocking to say the least. So young with many years ahead of him. I will always remember those good times early on back in the day.