JIM WEST 1924-2009

My Dear Friend & Collleague of 10 Years

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Dear Friends: Last night, I received word that my close friend and broadcasting pioneer Jim West died in Dallas. Jim was on my Blogroll for years and he was the subject of a BLOG Post I wrote a few years ago. I wanted to remember him this morning, tell you who he was and why he matters so much. Before I speak, I'd like to turn things over to our mutual friend and a Co-Founder with Jim of The Texas Voice Project, Samantha Elandary. Here's Sam:

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Samantha: "I met Jim West in 1999. At the time I didn’t realize the impact that this man would have on my life or the lives of people with Parkinson disease. Over time, I shared with Jim my dream of helping people with Parkinson’s improve their ability to communicate, how sad it made me to see their voices slowly deteriorate, especially when there was a treatment available that could help them: the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment. Being a musician and professional voiceover artist, Jim understood the importance of preserving one’s communication skills and he committed to doing everything he could to help make the Texas Voice Project a reality.From that moment on, Jim and I began our journey together. We faced many struggles and challenges trying to convince others of our Utopian plan for helping individuals with Parkinson’s. In 2005, at the age of eighty-one, Jim telephoned me and said, “Samantha, take the video that we made of your patients and Fed Ex it overnight to the National Parkinson Foundation in Miami, Florida; and then call the Director of Development on Wednesday. You got it?” As a result of that phone call, Texas Voice Project for Parkinson Disease was created with the assistance of the National Parkinson Foundation. We are confident that one day, the program will be replicated all over the United States thanks in great part to Jim West, who knew that dreams really can come true. Two weeks before Jim’s death, he said goodbye to me and told me that of all the different projects he had been involved in throughout his life, he was most proud of the work with Texas Voice Project. We will be forever grateful for Jim West’s contributions in helping Dallas Parkinson patients regain and maintain one of God’s greatest blessings—the ability to communicate."

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Michael: Jim West came into my life in 1999. He was the Vice President of a local organization in Dallas that provided assistance to people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I had just graduated with a B.A. degree in Psychology. After losing my Dad to Parkinson's disease, I aligned myself with The National Parkinson Foundation on The University of Miami campus in Florida. A bass player with The Dick Lane Quartet in Vegas during "The Rat Pack" years, as Samantha alluded to, Jim played next to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and he was a good friend of TV Legend Dick Clark. After several phone conversations, Jim asked to meet me with he and his wife Liz at their home in Richardson, Texas. I felt during our meeting that this warm hearted soul wanted to look into my eyes and see if I was "the real deal". By the time I left their home a few hours later, we hugged and he actually told me I was "the real deal"! He also added: "Were going to do big things together, my friend". Liz was the love of Jim's life and together they bred show horses and traveled with them to events across the country. At 75, Jim looked 20 years younger. I have to smile at two coups I pulled off with Jim. First Coup: I recruited Jim away from the local Dallas PD group and introduced him to Mary Ann Sprinkle, a sweet friend of mine (also a saddle bred gal like Liz) who was then Director of Development with The National Parkinson Foundation. Jim had moved to Weston, Connecticut where he had a home with three recording studios. He was responsible for syndicating the Big Band radio show, "The Music of Your Life" on 400 radio stations from Maine to Florida, and Florida to Seattle. He sold his advertising business to The Walt Disney Company and became a record producer. He once told me a hysterical story about playing a softball game in Las Vegas during the afternoon between gigs with comedian Don Rickles and Shecky Greene! But Jim was one of those quiet "Legends". He counseled many Parkinson patients over the telephone, many who were contemplating suicide. I have no doubt that Jim saved many lives with these conversations. In fact, his incredible voice even after age 80 was used by Walt Disney's Malaysia division to narrate children's books. Second Coup: One day, Mary Ann and I were speaking on the phone when I learned that she was flying to New York City on business and I said, "Wow, I wish you could meet Jim West in-person in Connecticut". We put our heads together and learned that Jim lived only an hour away. So, Mary Ann hired a sedan and driver to travel to Connecticut where Jim introduced her to his wife Liz, then surprised her with a limousine after touring The West's home to go out to dinner. This dinner visit eventually led to Jim becoming a member of The National Parkinson Foundation and he was networked to Speech Therapist Samantha Elandary when he and Liz moved back to Dallas, Texas. Jim had just produced a Pro-Max Award Winning Documentary called "The Story of Hope" for those who were diagnosed with PD. Jim and Samantha co-founded The Texas Voice Project. When I was asked to Emcee The Gala of Hope at the Saint Regis Resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach in Florida in on February 23, 2008, I told this story from the stage to about 800 people in the audience. By then, Liz had passed away and Jim's own health was worsening.

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The last time I saw Jim, he asked me to join him for breakfast in his suite at a hotel in Dallas for breakfast, and so of course I was thrilled to stop by. The night before, he was inducted into the Texas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. The National Association of Broadcasters also awarded him with a Lifetime Achievement Award and here we were--two broadcasters and musicians laughing and swapping memories over coffee and omelette's. When we hugged goodbye he kissed me on the cheek and said with tears in his eyes, "In many ways, you're like a son to me". It never occurred to me that this was our last visit. We remained in touch by telephone a lot--especially when I considered a move to Las Vegas, then later Los Angeles--two very difficult 30-day business trips for me, and Jim was always generous in lending me advice I sought from him on my career.

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To Jim's daughter Claire and son Steven: I send you my deepest sympathy. Jim was so proud of you both and I was Blessed by The Good Lord to have him in my life. I remember so much laughter and how much your Mom and Dad loved telling me about what you were up to; they loved raising horses, and of course Big Band music. May God grant you both comfort and peace during this difficult time.

Michael