In the late 2000s, Jim began his decades-long personal journey of becoming a leader in preserving and sharing the history of the Eastland Disaster. This included the very moving dedication in July 2022 of a gravemarker for Anna Kubiak, a victim of the Eastland Disaster whose family was a resident of Michigan City, Indiana (Jim's hometown). Anna's grave had been unmarked - nameless - for over 100 years.
To acknowledge and celebrate Jim's heartfelt and passionate contributions to EDHS, the EDHS Board of Trustees voted unanimously to create a permanent legacy honoring his contributions. (Read the board's declaration here.)
This honorary webpage, plus a parcel of Eastland Disaster materials named in honor of Jim that were donated to the Old Lighthouse Museum/Michigan City Historical Society, serve as reminders of Jim's lasting legacy to EDHS, its community of followers, and the public in general.
