The Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks and Rock Steady Boxing lost a great friend and supporter this year. James “Jim” Morris, 89, known to his friends as “Brother,” passed away on November 10, 2020 of complications arising from Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
Jim was an accomplished businessman, golfer, fisherman, storyteller, and friend. He possessed an abundance of energy, a warm heart to anyone that was lucky to be near him and a special twinkle in his eye. My fellow coaches at Rock Steady Boxing and I, are so lucky and grateful to have met Jim. Like many of our fighters, he became more than just a boxer to us, he became a part of our family.
Not long after opening our program in the spring of 2016, Jim and his son-in-law Neal, read an article about our first fighter, Mark, and the strides he was making with the program that was designed to use boxing, balance, speech and cognitive drills to improve the quality of life for individuals battling Parkinson’s Disease. Jim was a bit skeptical at first, but gave us a call wanting to come observe a class. We had only a handful of participants in those first months but Jim and Neal came and were sold on the program right away. Jim immediately became one of the team, joking with the others and telling stories. Jim told me he always left class feeling better and with more energy. He was a tall man, but he seemed to grow a few inches taller as he finished class and headed out the door with his boxing bag in tow.
While the program helped Jim, Jim did a lot for us coaches too. He was by far the oldest in his class, and was right there keeping up with the younger guys, but occasionally needed a bit more help. I would take his hand to help him when we did skipping drills. He would light up as we skipped across the room together and we would both wind up in fits of laughter.
Jim’s brother, Herman “Legs” Morris Jr., had been diagnosed and suffered greatly from Parkinson’s Disease much earlier than Jim’s diagnosis. Jim told me many stories of his brother and expressed how grateful he was to be handling his disease so well for his age. He saw the change in attitude, improvement in gait and movement in his classmates and decided this was a program he wanted to support. He often gave generously to the Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks to ensure they could continue to support the free classes we offer.
In 2018, we learned the building we were located in was selling and we were going to have to leave. We struggled to find a location to fit our needs. I called Neal to see if Morris Loans had any properties that might suit our needs. He informed me he did not. A Pilates client mentioned looking East of downtown in the Trafficway and St. Louis St. areas. One night I decided to drive up and down through this area with my infant daughter in the back seat looking at buildings and hoping I would find something suitable. A building I always loved on St Louis St., stuck out. It had been vacant as long as I could remember. I drove home, looked it up online and lo and behold it had gone up for sale that day. No sign had even been placed outside yet.
The next week in Jim’s class, I mentioned the building and how I wanted to look at it. Neal and Jim straightened up and said they would drive by it on their way home. They soon called and asked if I would be open to them being my landlord and could I go see it the next day? Barely able to breath I said, “Yes, of course!”
We decided the building was a perfect new home for The Bodysmith and Rock Steady Boxing. They threw their hat in the ring with six other bids for the property. Jim told Neal not to let that building get away. After much waiting and work they were able to close on the property and begin the remodel allowing us to have the most perfect and beautiful facility we could ask for. We moved to 1136 E St Louis in Fall of 2019.
Jim’s participation in class became less frequent at that point. He would stop by for a visit or lunch next door. Sometimes he would book a private session. I will never forget the last time he and I had a lesson together. He was worried about his energy level and what he could do at home for exercise. Music and dancing are known to be very beneficial in helping Parkinson’s symptoms. I said, “Well why don’t you and that beautiful wife of yours just dance!" I turned on some big band music and Jim and I danced until he was out of breath, smiling and laughing the entire time. I don’t know who was having more fun.
Earlier this year Jim decided he wanted to ensure that the Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks could continue to support us by offering free Rock Steady Boxing classes as long as the program is in existence. With the help of a couple of wonderful friends he called upon, he established an endowment through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks to make this possible.
Rock Steady Boxing at The Bodysmith is forever grateful for Jim and his willingness to go the extra mile for us. Most of all, his classmates and us coaches will miss his smile, stories, laughter and his hugs.