Dr. James W. Grimm

Dr. James W. Grimm 73 of Bowling Green died Saturday August 30, 2014 at his residence. He was born in Aurora, IL the son of the late James J. 'Buster' Grimm & Eva Logue Grimm. James graduated from East High School of Aurora, IL in 1959 and in 1963 received a BA degree in Social Studies from Carleton College in Northfield, MN. He completed all his graduate work at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana obtaining a MA degree in 1967 and his Ph.D. in Sociology in 1970 at Illinois. Dr. Grimm worked as a Research Assistant in the Survey Research Lab and in the Library Research Center. In 1968 he received the Bobbs-Merrill Award in Sociology as the outstanding Doctoral Candidate in the Sociology Department. From 1969-1972 Dr. Grimm taught as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the Vanderbilt University where he was active in research including some that were federally funded. In 1972 he came to Western Kentucky University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Social work. He remained in the Department of Sociology for the remainder of his academic career. Dr. Grimm held many ongoing leadership positions on departmental and university committees such as the Human Subjects Review Committee and the Student Probation Committee. During the mid 1990's when he chaired the departmental graduate committee, he coordinated the review which led to the American Sociologies Association recognizing W.K.U.'s MA Program as one of the dozen best terminal master's programs in the United States. Throughout his career Dr. Grimm was active in various forms of student mentoring at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He offered many independent study opportunities. He co-authored many papers with students that were presented at professional meetings and was often recognized as a graduate student mentor or favorite professor by students. He was active in helping establish the Social research laboratory in the department of Sociology and participate in many University sponsored evaluation projects completed by the lab. During the 1990's Dr. Grimm was the Primary Methodological Consultant in a series of federally-funded health research projects for the native Alaska health service. Dr. Grimm actively published and his scholarly output included over thirty-five articles in sociology, health journals, many monographs, two commercially published texts and seven self-published texts that he regularly used in his classes. Dr. Grimm enjoyed several hobbies including woodworking, stamp/coin collecting and with his wife tending home flower gardens and antiquing. He was an active donor to animal rights groups and to the Salvation Army. Survivors include 2 daughters Katherine Giles (Scott) of Smyrna, TN & Sarah E. Grimm of Nashville, TN; 3 grandchildren Kaelyn, Keaton & Kohen Giles of Smyrna, TN; 1 brother Dan Grimm (Donna) of Rancho Viegon, TX; 1 sister Janey M. Fox (Bruce) of Fleming Isle, FL; nieces, nephew, cousins, grandnieces & grandnephews in Aurora, IL & Fleming Isle, FL; his 2 faithful German Shepherds Rayna & Roxie. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his beloved wife Judith Chism Grimm; his father & mother -in-law Rev. Richard & Maurice Cunningham Chism and a nephew Michael Grimm. Funeral Services will be held 11:00am Saturday September 6, 2014 at the A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00pm until 8:00pm Friday at the funeral home. The family request that donations be made to the Humane Society thru www.humanesociety.org, The American Cancer Society or to the Judith Chism Grimm Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o College Heights Foundation, W.K.U. 1906 College Heights Blvd. Bowling Green, KY42101-1906