Grub Gulch lost a great friend and Clamper on April 19, 2009 (6014). Jim passed while in an extended stay in a Fresno Hospital due to complications of a stroke brought on by cancer which he had been battling for the last few years.

Jim was a retired L.A.P.D. officer and made Coarsegold his home. Jim was Humbug in 1995 and will always be remembered for his quick wit and dry sarcasm. A true Clamper indeed. His bad luck and accident prone history is the stuff great stories are made of. His nickname was derived from an incident at the Raymond Parade one year. While standing next to a friend on horseback prior to the parade, the horse side-stepped and managed to crush two of Jims toes protected only by a tennis shoe. He spent the parade day in the hospital. He was know for other antics involving a Quad and other mechanical devices he didn't need to be operating..!!

He has departed these diggins and entered upon that great Clampilgrimage beyond the Golden Hills. The Silver clarioned Hewgag has called him to gather around the celestial Campfire with all of the other miners who have gone on before him.   Rest well my friend. You will be missed.