Jim and I first met in early September, 1970, in Columbia, Missouri, at the initial gathering of the Class of 1970-1972 University of Missouri Health Services Management Program. Jim and I began graduate school with a common background: of the 8 members of that Class, we were the only 2 who had completed military service. We continued our relationship beyond graduate school as we refined our hospital administration skills, developed and continued a mutual interest in fishing and we always thought a beer was a good thing. Over the succeeding four decades we maintained a close and supportive relationship.
A very important part of Jim and my relationship was the matching complimentary relationship of our spouses, Cindy and Barb, both teachers. The 4 of us greatly enjoyed our times together. Cindy and I looked forward to our visits with the Rigbys, staying in their St. Louis home and their cabin at Lake of the Ozarks. We frequently combined our St. Louis visits with an evening dinner at a great restaurant selected by Jim, followed by a theatre production at the Repertory Theater of St. Louis. The next morning breakfast was a continuation of a visit with Jim and Barb. The 4 of us always enjoyed our evenings together. At one point, I counted an estimated 50 different evenings and restaurants in St. Louis which we had enjoyed with Jim and. Barb.
Jim and I experienced and worked through some of the changes in our positions in healthcare delivery and management. We both changed jobs a couple of times, we frequently discussed possible job changes (the wives thought we talked about changes too much) and we talked about the pros and cons of other job opportunities. Jim was employed at mostly large, urban institutions and I worked at small, rural hospitals. We recognized, discussed and appreciated the similarities and differences in healthcare facilities and agreed the emphasis had to be on patients and employees.
Jim and Barb were our friends. Cindy and I have often over the years talked about how important the Rigbys have been in our lives. Jim will be sorely missed, but we will cherish the memories of our times with our friend Jim and Barb in so many aspects of our lives.
