[AGL]Legacy of Jim Strong

[Gavan Duffy]

Bummer.   Whatever his excesses in later life, I'll remember him as the guy
who rescued me, at age 18, from the clutches of the more dogmatic Leninists
of the UH SDS chapter.  I recall that he later introduced me to the freaks
at the Honeycutt House.  Jeez, I think that was him.   Maybe it's because I
was only 18, but I thought Jim had his shit very together.

Back in those days, he was with a woman named (I think) Beverly whose last
name escapes me.  She had a sister named Kathy Baker, but Beverly had a
different last name than Kathy for some arcane reason.  Kathy and I were
almost cut down by a train as we drove someone's pickup through LaGrange on
our way to Houston.  Does anyone know what happened of Kathy and/or Beverly?

On 8/31/06, thorne dreyer <thornedreyer at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Yes Gavan, it was the same Jim Strong.  I first knew Jim when was a
> troublemaker at UH, in SDS there.  He and Ann Macnaughton helped distribute
> The Rag in Houston. I just renewed my friendship with him over the last
> couple of years, found him again through the Ghetto list.
>
> Thorne
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Gavan Duffy <gavan.duffy at gmail.com>
> To: survivors' reminiscences about Austin Ghetto Daze in the 60s <
> austin-ghetto-list at pairlist.net>
> Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 12:02:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [AGL]Legacy of Jim Strong
>
> Is this the same Jim Strong I knew in Houston, about 1968-1970?  Blond
> hair, walked with a slight limp due to childhood polio, was once married to
> Barbara Strong?  I didn't think he was that much older (8 years) than I, but
> it's possible.
>
>
> On 8/19/06, Jon Ford <jonmfordster at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I hope so, Gerry.I admire the way you have stuck with your lifestyle,
> > and
> > your dedication to your music.
> >
> > Jon
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > As for your blanket apology I accept it and hope that we might
> > communicate
> > on a mutually respectful level in the future.
> >
> > Regards,
> > G
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jon Ford" <jonmfordster at hotmail.com >
> > To: <austin-ghetto-list at pairlist.net>
> > Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 4:03 PM
> > Subject: RE: [AGL]Legacy of Jim Strong
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Mike sent out a blank email some time inviting us to post our sense of
> >
> > the
> > > "legacy" of Jim Strong. Since I was his friend in high school but not
> > close
> > > to him in college, it was a pleasure to rediscover his adult wit and
> > > knowledge of the world on-line on both the AGL and the Ghetto2 list.
> > He
> > was
> > > a founder and a good mediator on the ghetto2 list, and helped that
> > list
> > > survive despite numerous technological problems and  strong
> > personality
> > > conflicts along the way. Following is a notice of his death that
> > speaks
> > to
> > > the  respect many people he worked with had for him:
> > >
> > > Jon Ford
> > >
> > >
> > > Jim Strong dies unexpectedly at 64
> > > By: Jamie Nash, Courier staff
> > > 08/17/2006
> > >
> > > By all accounts, Montgomery County lost a major asset on Monday. Jim
> > Strong,
> > > 64, died unexpectedly after a brief illness.
> > >
> > > At the time of his death, Strong was Solid Waste Coordinator for
> > Montgomery
> > > County Environmental Health Services. He took that title after
> > resigning
> > as
> > > Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator, the position for
> > which
> > > he was best known. He was also the county's Special Projects
> > Coordinator.
> > > Strong served Montgomery County for over 15 years total and was
> > scheduled
> > to
> > > retire in September.
> > > Pat Buzbee, Director of Montgomery County Environmental Health
> > Services
> > > worked with Strong daily. "It was a shock to all of us," Buzbee said.
> > > Strong and Buzbee became acquainted in the 1970's when they both
> > worked
> > for
> > > Harris County. Buzbee said Strong "knew the correct way to do
> > everything,"
> > > and could always be called upon.
> > > He called Strong a dedicated and tireless worker who enjoyed working
> > with
> > > the public. "He enjoyed the people and the work," Buzbee said, "He
> > loved
> > > environmental work."
> > > Strong continued to work after he became ill, which Buzbee said
> > typified
> > > Strong's personality. "When he got hold of something, he didn't
> > abandon
> > the
> > > project until it was finished," he said.
> > > "I'm going to miss him dearly."
> > > County Environmental Officer Walter Jameson credited Strong with
> > creating
> > > his position. "He was instrumental in getting this position started
> > and
> > > getting the program funded," Jameson said. Strong, who had a
> > background
> > in
> > > journalism, wrote the application that won the grant for Jameson's
> > position.
> > > "I couldn't have planned it better myself," he said, "He did an
> > outstanding
> > > job."
> > > Jameson said he would most remember Strong's "quick wit and his
> > > personality."
> > > His personality was also remembered by Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace
> > James
> > > Metts, who described Strong as "always very helpful and cordial."
> > > "I was sorry to hear of his passing," Metts said, "Certainly his
> > family
> > will
> > > be in my prayers."
> > > Sue Bosma, Director of Montgomery County Communication Information
> > Services
> > > and Rhonda Hovater, Assistant Director both knew and worked with
> > Strong
> > for
> > > over five years. "We always take his advice," Hovater said, "He's been
> > a
> > > good friend and coworker."
> > > Bosma said Strong was a tremendous help to MCCIS, which is one of the
> > > county's more recently established agencies. "He did a lot for my
> > department
> > > when I first came here," she said.
> > > Bosma and Strong were both in the habit of arriving at work very early
> > and
> > > she was often comforted by the sight of his truck. She said it let her
> >
> > know
> > > she was not alone in the building where they both worked.
> > > "He was always here when I came at 7 a.m.," Bosma said.
> > > On Tuesday, Bosma realized she had not seen Strong's truck for a
> > couple
> > of
> > > days. She said she went to his office to ask about him and learned he
> > was
> > > gone.
> > > Bosma and Hovater said Strong would be missed by all who knew him.
> > > Conroe City Councilman Jay Ross Martin called Strong's death "a big
> > loss
> > to
> > > the county."
> > > Martin said Strong was very helpful to the city in emergency
> > situations,
> > > recalling in particular an ice storm several years ago. "The city had
> > a
> > real
> > > good working relationship with him," Martin said, "Anytime we lose an
> > > employee like Jim it's a loss to the whole community."
> > > Strong left behind a wife, step-children, grandchildren and a host of
> > other
> > > family and friends.
> > > Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. today at Klein Funeral Home in
> > Magnolia,
> > > followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m.
> > >
> > >
> > > Jamie Nash can be reached at jnash at hcnonline.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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