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The Pinecone
|
March 2016
• 7 •
ACHIEVING GOALS & STILL GOING
Jim
Stafford
Beginning as a young man and continuing to this day as a senior
citizen, Jim Stafford had three goals, (1) owning a business, (2)
raising a family, and (3) settling down in a community of his
larger family. This is his story.
Jim’s father, John Stafford, was Manager of an Ice Plant in
Cleveland, MS. When Jim was 16 years old, he joined his father
at the Ice Plant; relished the experience of getting paid for his
labor @$6.00 per week; and knew the pleasure of “making his
way” in the business world. He also met Weda, destined to be his
wife in a few years. College was deferred by WWII. Jim joined
the Navy as a Gunner’s Mate; was sent to California as a first step
to shipping to Japan; but Japan’s surrender ended his brief stint
in the military. Jim enrolled at the U. of California, with a major
in engineering, and he and Weda married. They have a son and
daughter, 3 grandchildren, and 2 great grands.
After one year at University, Jim withdrew and spent the next 2
years working as an engineering draftsman for Irving Subway
Grating Company. Expecting their first child, Jim and Weda
moved from California to Memphis. He continued his engineering
studies on-line and received a Certificate from the University of
Wisconsin attesting to his status as a Civil Engineer. In 1965,
Jim bought Memphis Wire & Iron Works (MW&I), a business
first listed in the Memphis City Directory in 1892. He expanded
their portfolio of fabrication of commercial iron works; grew the
staff from 8 to 30; and moved the plant to President’s Island. The
Company continues to supply steel products in West Tennessee,
Arkansas, and Mississippi, and also delivers to all parts of the U.S.
Memphis is home to the renown National Metals Museum as a
result of diligent efforts of the National Fabrication Group, of
which Jim was a member. He was President of the Memphis
Chapter of the Group; traveled with other members to steel
fabrication companies in Spain, England, Wales, Portugal,
Scotland, and Germany, becoming familiar with new processes.
Jim gave his time and efforts to other Memphis institutions such
as the Highland Hundred Club (a football and basketball booster
club for University of Memphis teams); Kiwanis Club, and
Memphis Engineers Club.
Jim is not retired. Not yet. He has been gifted with good health, a
hunger to learn new things, a graciousness for helping others, and
a determination that never faltered in his drive to be the final say-
so on matters dear to his heart. Life is good.
- Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
Taking care of business at Memphis Wire & Iron Works, Inc.