Though Jim has experienced much since his departure from Berkeley, he still keeps a close tie with Cal and Phi Gamma Delta. As an undergraduate, Jim was actively involved in athletics and was a member of the football team throughout college. Yet, college would not be the extent of his football career. After receiving team MVP honors in his senior season of 1967, Jim was signed by the San Diego Chargers as a linebacker. Sadly, his career was cut short due to knee injuries, and after two years in the NFL Jim retired. His departure from the NFL, though, only allowed him to begin his rather illustrious career in the business world. In 1981 Jim began his own leverage buyout firm, and soon was the new Chairman of Garden America Corporation. Fixing one business after another, Jim went on to chair Stone Products Corporation and later Quantic Industries. He is now currently President of Wildwood Corporation.
Throughout his career, Jim has made it a point to share his success with the university and Fiji as well. Jim is currently a Trustee on the UC Foundation and for some time has generously supported the school, most notably the athletics department. Jim also recently hosted a reunion for Cal Fijis from the 1960’s. This event, held in the Napa area, was attended by roughly thirty members with their wives, and was a great opportunity for the members to catch up with one another and preserve their lifelong friendships. This event exemplifies Jim’s attitude towards Phi Gamma Delta, which he describes as, “A wonderful institution to live in and make friends. Those friendships last long after graduation”.
Jim currently resides in the Lake Tahoe area with his wife Barbara, with whom he has a daughter, Erin.
