There is not a week that goes by when I don't think about Jim, who died in a drunk driving crash in Houston after a summer party with his UT fraternity.
For years after he died I'd have dreams that he was still alive--completely healthy, not the badly burned crash victim that I saw at the hospital. Each time, I'd wake up, disturbed by the memory of what Jim and his grieving family had suffered.
Flash forward to 2008: I have spent half of my career working on the problems of drunk driving and college student drinking, work for which I have been nationally recognized. I'd give all of that up to have Jim still be with us.
Like Bill, I think of Jimmy often. He was a truly nice guy, very bright and very sweet. His untimely death really sent a jolt through many of us, who thought we were all so invincible.
As noted above, Jimmy died as a result of a tragic auto accident a few months before the start of his junior year at the University of Texas. Jimmy was an excellent student and planned to go to dental school after obtaining his bachelor’s degree. I’m sure he would have been a fine dentist and would have contributed a lot to our society. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity at Texas, as were several Spring Woods grads. Jimmy was a bright and popular guy and always fun to be around.
The accident in which he died had a number of particularly tragic circumstances. He was driving home after a date and traveling roads that were unfamiliar to him. The other driver involved tried hard at great danger to himself, to save Jimmy. If I recall correctly, he lived for three days after the accident. He was only 19.
Even now, 38 years later, Jimmy’s death is hard to write about. He was the first person that I knew who was about my age to die. His death was a great shock, as we all thought we were invulnerable and would live forever.
I have thought many times about his mother and wondered how she is doing. I got to know her over several days sitting in the hospital waiting room. In an incredibly trying time, she was always gracious, kind and thoughtful. I hope that time has healed the wounds that this tragedy caused her and spared her pain.
Paul Graf told me Jimmy was gone. We drove to Jimmy's funeral in Houston from Austin, where we were UT students. I still remember the way Jimmy's mother hugged and fussed over the two of us. She had seen us plenty around her house playing basketball and board games with Jimmy. I remember the tears of Jimmy's 3 younger sisters and how different his Dad looked that day from the many other times I had seen him. I hope our presence eased the pain of this nice family.
Jimmy's death was a wake-up call to all of his friends that we are not invulnerable.
Bill DeJong found inspiration in Jimmy's death to do research on the problem and be a board member and leader in MADD, so his loss was not entirely in vain.
Jimmy and I were always in the same homeroom class, and I remember holding many early morning homework discussions with him. He was a kind, sweet guy, and I have nothing but fond memories of him.
One funny moment I recall vividly: Jimmy had to give a book report on "The Grapes of Wrath." He didn't like public speaking, and he told me he was really nervous. Well, his nerves got the best of him and he started the report by saying, "My book report is on The Graths of Rape." Honest to God. He turned beet red and eventually got through it, but I'll always remember that moment. (We were able to laugh about it later, so I'm sure he won't mind my bringing it up.)
Bill DeJong (DeJong)
There is not a week that goes by when I don't think about Jim, who died in a drunk driving crash in Houston after a summer party with his UT fraternity.For years after he died I'd have dreams that he was still alive--completely healthy, not the badly burned crash victim that I saw at the hospital. Each time, I'd wake up, disturbed by the memory of what Jim and his grieving family had suffered.
Flash forward to 2008: I have spent half of my career working on the problems of drunk driving and college student drinking, work for which I have been nationally recognized. I'd give all of that up to have Jim still be with us.
-- Bill DeJong
Linda D. Freed (Klinger)
Like Bill, I think of Jimmy often. He was a truly nice guy, very bright and very sweet. His untimely death really sent a jolt through many of us, who thought we were all so invincible.Randy Stalnaker
As noted above, Jimmy died as a result of a tragic auto accident a few months before the start of his junior year at the University of Texas. Jimmy was an excellent student and planned to go to dental school after obtaining his bachelor’s degree. I’m sure he would have been a fine dentist and would have contributed a lot to our society. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity at Texas, as were several Spring Woods grads. Jimmy was a bright and popular guy and always fun to be around.The accident in which he died had a number of particularly tragic circumstances. He was driving home after a date and traveling roads that were unfamiliar to him. The other driver involved tried hard at great danger to himself, to save Jimmy. If I recall correctly, he lived for three days after the accident. He was only 19.
Even now, 38 years later, Jimmy’s death is hard to write about. He was the first person that I knew who was about my age to die. His death was a great shock, as we all thought we were invulnerable and would live forever.
I have thought many times about his mother and wondered how she is doing. I got to know her over several days sitting in the hospital waiting room. In an incredibly trying time, she was always gracious, kind and thoughtful. I hope that time has healed the wounds that this tragedy caused her and spared her pain.
Charles Johnson
Paul Graf told me Jimmy was gone. We drove toJimmy's funeral in Houston from Austin, where we
were UT students. I still remember the way
Jimmy's mother hugged and fussed over the two of us. She had seen us plenty around her house playing basketball and board games with Jimmy. I remember
the tears of Jimmy's 3 younger sisters and
how different his Dad looked that day from the
many other times I had seen him. I hope our
presence eased the pain of this nice family.
Jimmy's death was a wake-up call to all of
his friends that we are not invulnerable.
Bill DeJong found inspiration in Jimmy's death to
do research on the problem and be a board member
and leader in MADD, so his loss was not
entirely in vain.
I remember Paul's lament for Jimmy.
"And he had just passed Organic Chemistry"...
Teresa M. Schuman (Thelin)
Jimmy and I were always in the same homeroom class, and I remember holding many early morning homework discussions with him. He was a kind, sweet guy, and I have nothing but fond memories of him.One funny moment I recall vividly: Jimmy had to give a book report on "The Grapes of Wrath." He didn't like public speaking, and he told me he was really nervous. Well, his nerves got the best of him and he started the report by saying, "My book report is on The Graths of Rape." Honest to God. He turned beet red and eventually got through it, but I'll always remember that moment. (We were able to laugh about it later, so I'm sure he won't mind my bringing it up.)
As Billy Joel said, "Only the good die young."