Jim Spencer was a man that I looked up to and respected - and his passing is a loss that I feel. We played in the same bass section for a few years in the Tab Band, and one year I was particularly busy working professionally as a magician. I had a show booked for the afternoon of the Thanksgiving concert at the tab, one that I was being paid particularly well for. My client was having a birthday party at a steakhouse in Glendora, and had contracted me to start performing in the steakhouse at 5PM. The client did not take into account that his party of 30 might not be seated right at 4 PM, and when I got there, they were just getting their food. He asked me if I could meet him at his house in Glendora at 5:45PM. I agreed, thinking that my hour show would be over at 6:45PM and I would be able to pull into the Tab at 7:20, get changed and ready for the concert at 7:30PM. Oh, how wrong I was. The client didn't get to his house until 6:30Pm - I ended that gig at 7:50Pm, didn't get to the corps until 8:50PM, and the concert was nearly over. From what I understand, Jim didn't bat an eye and played the whole concert by himself. What a lonely tuba player he must have been that night, but what an example he was. Jim was a dedicated man, husband, father and musician. Every time he lead the songsters, he always expressed the music in his whole body - but most of all, in his face. If you watched his face, you knew exactly what he wanted out of you as a songster. However, if you watched him with Susan, Keith, and Keri - you knew exactly who he was as a man and a father. I had the privilege to watch him on many occasions, and I pray that I will be as dedicated a father and husband as he was. Most of all, he was a man who genuinely cared about me - and I will remember him for the rest of my life as being an example of a man, musician, father, husband and christian that I can look to for the rest of my life. And now? He is in heaven, conducting the band, talking to both my dad and Venus' dad, and basking in the glow of his savior. "To be absent from the body is to be present with God." Jim, be their example in heaven, keep my seat in the band warm for me. I'll see you soon. Stephen