Jim Baum

Jim was born on September 25, 1936 in Des Moine Iowa to James Leroy and Edith Maureen Van Buskirk Baum.

Jim was a hard-working man who took pride in his love for family and his love for his community. Jim graduated from high-school in 1954 in Abilene. He had spent a couple of years in the National Guard after he had graduated serving his country and doing his part. Baseball was a big part of Jim’s life in his early 20’s he played in the Pittsburg Pirate’s farm league for 2 years in 1956 and 1957 for 3 teams. After his time playing ball Jim came back to Texas and worked for KCRS Radio Station where he found his life-long love for radio. He managed KBYG in Big Spring for 17 years before he bought KVMC radio in Colorado City in 1980 becoming the man known as the voice of Mitchell County. He was loved so much by his community that the city elected him Mayor and he had become the longest term mayor of Colorado City

Jim was also a family man; he married his first wife Miss Margaret Stewart on May 14, 1960. Together they had 4 children, and spent 30 years married until her passing in 1990. After that Jim met his second wife Miss Linda Sample whom he married on February 14, 1992, the two of them spent many years together enriching each other’s lives, caring for one another, taking care of the radio station and taking in rescue dogs. Jim also had a passion for collecting baseball cards, he would spend hours sorting them out and filing each one as he saw fit. He also enjoyed the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Cowboys, and a good running Ford Mustang, not to mention his local sports teams who he kept thorough track of. Jim enriched many lives through the years through the many interviews he did on the radio and his segment Community Close-up, a segment that when you were asked to be on you knew you were special to him. His warm smile, humble spirit and great radio voice will be missed by not only those that loved him but by a whole community.

Jim is survived by his wife Linda Baum of Colorado City, his 3 sons Jim S. Baum of Andrews, Bill Baum and wife Sharon of Lindale, and Doug Baum and wife Trish of Valley Mills, and by his daughter Laura White and husband Craig of Albuquerque N.M. He is also survived by his grandchildren Richard, Nicole, Bailey, Graham, Grace, Kate, Vanessa, Delany, and Pecos, as well as by his beloved rescue dogs and fur babies

A funeral service for Jim will be held at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 22nd at 11 am with Rev. Donald Ward officiating and Tim Lelek, John Martinez, Tim Womack, Tom Carlock, Graham White, and Pecos Baum acting as official Pall-Bearers.

The family will be present for a visitation from 5-7 pm at Kiker Seale Funeral Home on Friday, December 21st.

In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial contribution to Pets needing Parents Rescue in Colorado City, the Heart of West Texas Museum, or to the American Cancer Society.

Those wishing may share a memory by visiting www.kikerseale.com