Posted by BG (Ret) Jack M. Pollin on September 15, 2005:

Jim and I served together in the department of Mathematics in the early seventies when I became what was identified as the NotHead. Jim impressed me greatly during his tour with the department and so when the opportunity arose for me to bring in a person with the background and leadership to serve as the associate professor in charge of fourth class mathematics, Jim was my obvious first choice. Jim contributed greatly to improvements we made in the mathematical education offered to cadets. We held weekly meetings of our permanent faculty in those days to coordinate our efforts and to discuss ways to motivate cadet interest. One of our first and most successful undertakings was the development of a sequential problem aimed at getting cadets to use their mathematics in the solution of a real word problem. Under Jim's guidance, the 4th class group developed a problem that required the use of integral and differential calculus in the design of a dam to be constructed on the Snake river. It was a most successful effort though the cadets were quick to dub it the "dam problem". Beyond our professional association Jim was one my best friends. He and Carol and their family were our next door neoghbors in the Lusk Reservoir quarters area for many years. Our children grew up together there. When I retired, Jim presented me with two momentos that I still keep on my desk. One is a miniature set of cadets forming the Color Guard of the Corps. The other is a nicely finished device that Jim constructed for me from fine woods; coming from an engineer it naturally has a purpose -- in this case desinged to enable me to draw perfect ellipses. Both Jim and I enjoyed woodwork so this is a prized possession. In this regard, my recollections of Jim and Carol are among my most prized possessions. Jim had so many friends who have had so many wonderful things to say about him. He wasn't sometimes referred to as St. James without good reason. Jim was one of the finest officers it has been my privelege to serve with. Jack Pollin

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