[AGL]Legacy of Jim Strong

[Jon Ford]

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
 >
 >
 >