Times Examiner Facebook Logo

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 05:29 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Jim-KeaslerJim Keasler went to his eternal home Monday, February 27, 2012. A celebration of life was held at Brushy Creek Baptist Church in Taylors on Thursday. He is survived by his beloved wife Pat of 25 years and 3 children and 2 stepchildren.

Jim was born January 23, 1932, graduated from Inman High School in 1950 where he played football and was president of his senior class. He graduated from Spartanburg Junior College and received a degree in business from the University of South Carolina in 1958 after serving a tour in the United States Air Force as a volunteer in the Air Force Cadet Program.

He served two years as a sales representative and nine years as the Columbia district manager for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina. He was described in a company publication as “ambitious, friendly and a warm smile for everyone.”

In August, 1968, Jim was named Executive Director of the South Carolina Appalachian Health Council in Greenville, a position he held until 1988.

From 1988 until retirement, Jim served as administrator for the privately owned Greenville Outpatient Diagnostic Center.

He worked for three Governors of South Carolina beginning with Gov. Robert E. McNair and John C. West as director of  child development programs. He served as Executive Assistant to Governor James B. Edwards reporting to Carroll A. Campbell.

Since retirement, Jim has held several important appointments and performed many services for his community. He served on the board of directors for the Donaldson Development Corporation, Board of Visitors, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina Commission on Higher Education and a member of the board of Live Free, Inc. providing an abstinence education program for youth.

One of Jim’s labors of love in Christian ministry was his work, along with his beloved Pat and the Child Evangelism Fellowship. In recent years, he became most widely known as a champion of taxpayers through his work with Grady Miller, Butch Taylor and the Greenville County Taxpayers’ Association. At the state level, he worked tirelessly in the legislative arena with Don Weaver and the  South Carolina Association of Taxpayers as Vice President.

Jim Keasler was a fierce fighter for taxpayers. He had a low tolerance for tax and spend office holders and bureaucrats.  Someone said about Jim that he was known by all elected officials as either their “strong supporter” or their “worst nightmare.”

He is missed!

No comments

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User