James Clair "Jim" Garchow

James Clair Garchow, 72, of Idaho Falls, passed away September 20, 2009, of acute leukemia at his home surrounded by his family.

James, more commonly known as Jim, was born December 6, 1936, in Mancelona, Mich., to Clair and Ruth Garchow. He attended school in Mancelona until 1947, when his family moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he then attended junior high school. His family again moved in 1950, this time to Coolidge, Arizona, where Jim attended Coolidge High School.

Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy toward the end of the Korean War. Although he witnessed the test explosions of five hydrogen bombs in the Marshall Islands in 1956, he saw no combat but was proud of his efforts as a Korean War veteran. Following honorable discharge in 1955, Jim returned to Arizona, where he hosted a weekly radio program, "Stars Behind Bars," while employed as a guard at the Arizona State Prison.

Soon after his return to Arizona, a legend was born as Jim began his radio career when he became a disc jockey at the radio station KCKY in Coolidge. It was at KCKY that Jim became fast friends with a fellow disc jockey, later known to the world as legendary country music singer Waylon Jennings. This became a lifelong friendship that would last until Waylon's passing in 2002. His broadcast of an American Legion Baseball Tournament in 1960 was his first as a sportscaster.

In 1961, Jim married Brenda Joy Moman. They lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, and had two daughters, Gina Capri and Kelly Leigh. He was the voice of the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, as well as Sales Manager at KCLS Radio.

In September 1969, Jim was sent to Idaho Falls by his mentor, Charles Saunders, to assume the position of General Manager of KUPI radio. In October of the same year, he changed the format of the station to country western, which resulted in KUPI becoming one of the most respected radio stations in the state. In 1970, Jim began broadcasting for the Idaho Falls Angels. His third daughter, Stacey Dawn, was born while he was broadcasting a game at Highland Park. In 1976, Jim became the voice of Skyline High School, broadcasting all football and basketball games, as well as many Idaho Falls High School games.

At the age of 36, Jim suffered his first heart attack. Four years later, a second heart attack occurred. He later underwent a high-risk bypass surgery at Stanford University, but issues prevailed. Jim's heart problems finally came to an end on July 23, 1987, when he had a heart transplant. He supported and spoke on behalf of organ donation through his life. At the time of his passing, he was the longest living heart transplant recipient from the University of Utah transplant program.

In 2000, his wife of 39 years, Brenda, died from cancer. They had enjoyed traveling to Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Hawaii and Seattle. One of the more memorable trips was attending the Kentucky Derby with Waylon Jennings and his wife, Jesse Coulter.

Jim's passion for sports began as a young boy in Michigan with his love of the Detroit Tigers. Along with playing football and baseball in high school, Jim later played men's fast pitch softball and won the Northwest Regional Championship as coach of the Q99 Women's Fast pitch softball team. Jim also loved bowling and was inducted into the Men's and Women's Idaho Falls Bowling Association Hall of Fame in the mid-1980s. He found great enjoyment as an honorary member of the coaching staff of Mahlon Rasmuson. In 1988, Jim began a love/hate relationship with golf, which fast became his favorite pastime.

Professionally, Jim's greatest accomplishment was the success of KUPI radio in his 37 years as General Manager. The longevity of his staff was evidence of his leadership and keen eye for talent. He was very proud of the success of his employees and passionate about serving his customers and community. In 2006, at the age of 69, Jim stepped down as General Manager of the radio station and up until the time of his death, acted as Executive Vice-President of Sandhill Media, which had become the new owner of KUPI.

In 2007, he was the first person inducted into the Skyline High School Hall of Fame. No sportscaster in all of minor league baseball had a longer tenure with the same baseball team as Jim in his 39 years as the voice of the Idaho Falls Chukars. In 2005, he was recognized by the Idaho High School Activities Association with the Duane Wolfe Memorial Award for his longtime support of high school athletics. Along with John Balginy, he won the Idaho State Broadcasters Association award for Best Sports Broadcast with the play by play of the Emotion Bowl in 2004.

In the final years of his life, Jim found his greatest joy was with his close friends and family. He and longtime companion Darlene Charlton enjoyed trips to Arizona, San Diego, Niagra Falls and New England to watch the leaves change in the fall.

He is survived by his daughters, Gina (Scott) Berger, Kelly Palmer and Stacey (Rod) Mason of Idaho Falls; grandchildren, Katelyn and Michael Berger, Krystal and Samantha Palmer, and Jordyn, Sophie and Ryan Mason; brother, Jack Garchow of Ajo, Arizona; RT, Luna Mae and Tim (Jody) Moman of Phoenix, Arizona; Darlene, Scott, Todd and Brenda Charlton; and Charles Saunders of Phoenix, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda; father, Clair Garchow; mother, Ruth Gilman; brother, Don Garchow; and special friends Waylon Jennings, Bill Jewell, Lew Gourley and Mahlon Rasmuson.

Through his life, Jim quietly supported individual athletes in need by purchasing shoes, gear or uniforms. He also helped with travel costs or participation fees whether he knew them or not. He never wanted anyone to be unable to be involved in school activities due to financial hardship. The family requested that others do the same in his honor.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www .woodfuneralhome.com.

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