Jim is retired, and with his wife, Deborah, splits time between Linville, North Carolina, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. They are the past owners and operators of The Mountainaire Inn and Log Cabins in Blowing Rock. Jim enjoys fishing, golf, learning to play the guitar, and long walks along the Blue Ridge Parkway and beach with their dog, Guinness. Jim and Deborah fell in love with the mountains when their daughter Jennifer attended Appalachian State University. They have lived in the Blowing Rock area for past 15 years and now in the Linville/Newland area.
He serves on the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation’s Legislative Committee, and with his wife, sponsored the annual Denim Ball fundraiser for Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. He also volunteers his time to maintain the donor stations in the Blowing Rock area.