I got a call this morning with some very sad news. My friend and Duke classmate, Jim Blackwood, died suddenly this morning of a heart attack.
Jim was about the 5th person I met when I set foot on campus back in August of 1980. He was a high school classmate of my BFF, Kim. He quickly became one of my close friends. Jim was truly one of the good guys.
Jim was overjoyed when his daughter, Beth, graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and began her Duke career last summer. Jim and his wife Kay came to many football games last fall--mostly to see their daughter Beth, but also to cheer on Jim's beloved Blue Devils.
Some of you may have met Jim when he stopped by some of our tailgates. He bought tickets to a game one time from our Brunchgate extras. Now he has a front row seat to all of the Duke games.
I am broken-hearted and shaky. I will miss seeing him and reading his hysterical FB postings. Quite naturally, his last FB posting was this: [Jim] is thinking the University of North Carolina, in light of its budget troubles, could probably go without filling a couple of recently vacated positions. Rest in peace, my dear friend.
