Jim was born in 1920 in Ohio, but WWII brought him to the San Diego area where he settled in National City with his wife Rosina. During WWII, Jim was assigned to submarines and destroyers while in the US Navy. Jim certainly had the gift of gab and was continuously talking with his brothers at the station. He had a side job at a local barber shop and cut hair for all his fire buddies. "Katz", as he was called, died from job-related heart disease at age 65.