Jim Palmer’s Story

The western part of Virginia, in the late 40s and early 50s, was a quieter, simpler place to grow up. Jim Palmer grew up in Keokee, Virginia (population 400; a high school class of just 16) with a strong belief in the values of that place and time. Kids there learned basic values: right, wrong, the importance of friends and family. Jim also developed a sense of who he was and comfort with the person he was to become.

A new bicycle was ordered through Sears Roebuck and a love of baseball filled his early years. Jim cherished the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Adventures in nature and occasionally slipping aboard trains traveling to places unknown were his fun. Growing taller and more poised as the years unfolded, he headed to Dayton, Ohio for work but instead was discovered by the University of Dayton’s legendary coach Blackburn, who recognized Jim’s potential even though he had never before played basketball. College basketball paid the tuition with a little leftover, which was okay with Jim as he was used to doing a lot with very little.

A key player on the legendary team during UD’s top-ranked years, Jim was drafted in the second round by the NBA but pursued a more lucrative offer with AAU team Peoria Cats, winning the national championship in 1958. As an AAU All-American, he played on the first US team against the Soviet Union, which in later years led to his escorting trips for top business leaders to the USSR and extensive travels globally throughout his life.

A professional career in the NBA ensued from 1958 to 1961, first with the Cincinnati Royals and then two years with the New York Knickerbockers.

A big man without pretension, Jim’s professional career cemented his understanding of who he was. Team values became the touchstone to which he would return for the rest of his life.

In l967, Jim met Purcell Scheu and became the wings upon which she soared. She charged forward and he became the bedrock on which they stood. From San Francisco to Chicago to the Hudson Valley, it was a marriage that really worked.

In their last ten years together, Jim and Purcell embarked on the Catwalk project. This became an all-consuming passion for both of them. Purcell, with her project-a-minute pace, relied on Jim to keep everything moving along. Jim was proud of Catwalk, taking care of the smallest details and overseeing all large changes made to the property. He was most often found chatting with tradesmen, residents and pals at his round table in the west garden. He encouraged and inspired goals and values in others with a rich sense of humor that was intrinsic to the way he saw the world. He truly was Lord of his Manor in every way.

Jim’s last days were spent at Catwalk with the woman he loved and comforted by the views of the Hudson. To end this way seemed so right. Larger than life, Jim was a gentle giant in his humility and care for others. Losing him leaves a tremendous void for those who were fortunate to have been a part of his life.