Northside Business Leaders

August 6, 2010

My August/September interview was conducted with Jim Fair. He is a past president of the Northside Business Leaders, and is currently retired. He loves to spend his days in the company of his lovely wife, Winona, and his children and grand children. They love to travel and see family outside of Jacksonville. From speaking with him, it is obvious that family is one of the most important things to

him. But...we will start from the beginning:

It was a "cool November morning" when a cute little baby boy was born. During the interview, he showed pictures of him when he was younger, pictures of his family, spoke of the places he has lived, and the work that he did.

Jim started working at the Navy Calibration Laboratory in 1968. In 1977, he moved to the Philippines, continuing the same type of work. He lived in Washington state for a period of time, but ultimately returned to Jacksonville. When he retired in 1999, he had 200 people working for him. After three or four months of retirement, he went back to work as a government contractor. He said he did this for about three or four years. He explained that 9/11 dried up a lot of work, and like many
others, he was laid off.

Jim was the president of the Northside Business Leaders in 2007. After serving as President, he still participates in the Board Meetings, and makes the reminder calls to other members about upcoming meetings. It is very rare when he is not seen at a Membership Meeting.

The Senior Life Foundation is one of the organizations that Jim volunteers his time to. He answers the phone for them, goes out of his way to take financial assistance to clients who call on the foundation, and sells tickets for their various fundraising events.

Jim Fair at the Jacksonville Fair

In the time that the Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is in Jacksonville, Jim volunteers at the Northside Business Leaders booth selling beer. The club gets an hourly rate and a portion of the tips. This money goes into the club's scholarship fund to assist deserving students on the Northside go to college.

Mr. Fair is a true asset to our club and the community. Be sure to tell him how much he is appreciated the next time you see him.

 Shannon Elian,  PropVoice Management