Jim and Bonnie Judy

Recently, I had the pleasure to be invited to Jim and Bonnie Judy’s home in South Tampa. Jim’s family can be tracked back many generations, having been instrumental in what Tampa has become, and what it is moving towards. Jim’s family’s accomplishments, along with his own, are truly fascinating. Jim’s grandfather was James Swann who owned much of the Bayshore and developed the Tampa Bay Port estuary. He was the force that made Tampa Bay Port a reality. Swann Avenue was named after him because of his many endeavors. As a child, Jim can remember going to the Tampa Bay Port and watching the banana boats that were arriving from Honduras being unloaded. Around the same time, he also recalls his grandfather complaining that Tampa was starting to become too big. When asked why he thought that, he replied that it was because when he was driving around roads in town, there were people he saw that he did not recognize and know by name! He no doubt would be stunned at the number of new faces arriving daily in Tampa today! Some people might worry when they meet their spouse that their parents may not approve of their choice in a mate. Jim and Bonnie did not have to worry about that, as they went right over their parents’ heads, and sought their grandmothers’ approval first! Actually, the reason this happened was due to the fact that their grandmothers were very close friends. Forty years of marriage, and three children later (who all still reside in Tampa), their grandmothers obviously knew a good match when they saw one! Jim’s accomplishments, successes, philanthropic activities and passions are a very long and impressive list. To begin, Jim was scouted two different times for the United States Olympic Team for horseback riding. His mother did not allow him to pursue this, however, as she felt that a college education was far more important than a horse. Jim spent two years at the University of Florida and graduated from USF with a degree in English, and a minor in Theater. From that base, Jim became an accomplished actor and director. He acted at the Neighborhood Playhouse, and while at USF, was one of only several students to have directed a play. He has assisted or been involved with events at Stage Works, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, as well as the Broadway Theater project at USF. At the University of Tampa, Jim was on the Board of Fellows, a member of the Minaret Society, and also served as President of the Henry B. Plant Museum. At USF, he was active on search committees to fill positions for Dean of the College of Fine Arts, and Chairman of the Dance Department. Jim is a founding member of Bravo, and also a member of the Krewe Theater. Bravo and Krewe are community support groups for the USF Theater and Dance Departments. Jim has also held high-level positions at Tampa Preparatory School, The Salvation Army, The Spring, the Tampa Historical Society and the Downtown Rotary Club. Jim is presently the President of the Tampa Firefighters Museum, housed in an old downtown firehouse (constructed in 1911), located at the corner of Zack and Jefferson. In addition, Jim currently writes an arts column for the local Cultural Affairs magazine, which is published monthly. With all of these activities and responsibilities, you would think that Jim’s ability to find time for new passions would be next to impossible. However, he is a very accomplished chef. Jim is fond of saying that some people his age have a Harley Davidson, but he has a Viking stove! Speaking of chefs, Jim knows the difference between a good meal and a great one. For this reason, he is proud to be a member of the University Club. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jim, and hope everyone who reads this has the opportunity to spend some time with him in the future, as well.