By 1965, many of Jim’s friends had returned home from the service and
were taking advantage of going to school through the GI bill while he
was still bouncing from job to job. By then, Jim had gotten married and
had children so it was at that time that he decided to go to St. Louis
to work with the Teamsters. Jim stayed with the Teamsters for quite
some time before being forced to take an early retirement due to health
problems.



The
family later moved to the Quad Cities in 1980 and Jim started RDS
Walcott, a truck transportation brokerage business.  Jim and his
wife Doris, successfully ran this business for many years until selling
it in 2000. Jim and Doris had married on March 15, 1963, They have 10
children between them.



It was
in May of 1985 that Jim underwent his first heart surgery. By August
that same year he had an additional femoral bypass operation which
almost resulted in the loss of both legs. The prognosis wasn’t good –
Jim was expected to die so he didn’t bother to file for disability or
his Teamsters pension because he didn’t think he would be around long
enough to collect it.


In
1992 his doctor told him he would never be able to go back to work and
his body would potentially cost him close to a million dollars expense
to keep it alive. To make matters worse, Jim’s insurance was cancelled
out the same day he had his 2nd surgery. That left him uninsured and
uninsurable from 1985 to 1994. For the first time in his life, Jim
found he was unable to buy any type of insurance, particularly when he
needed it most. Before finally filing for Social Security
Disability in 1992 and his Teamsters pension in ‘93, Jim had spent over
$125,000 of his savings to pay for his healthcare and medications.
Although he did eventually get his Teamsters pension, he was unable to
get their health benefits since he was just shy of being twenty years
on the job.



It was
at this time that Jim decided to invest his energy into educating
himself on the issue of healthcare, sharing what he knows, and telling
his personal story in hopes of making sure other Americans were not
faced with similar circumstances. Like many others, Jim believes
affordable quality healthcare should be a right of every American,
rather than a privilege of the wealthy few.



From
1985 to 1992, it was a very difficult time, but true to form, Jim
ultimately willed himself to get out of his chair and engage life
again. Jim said, “I made a commitment to myself and the world that if I
was ever able to get out of that chair, I would dedicate the rest of my
life to helping those who are less fortunate than I had been in my
life.”  Jim said he was no longer interested in making
money, but says he did want to stay active in helping other people so
he began to get involved in various projects. Jim shared that most of
his life, he has had incredible opportunities come his way.



Jim got
involved with the AARP, later to become the President of the local
chapter. By that time he had met enough people that he was asked to get
involved on the board of directors for the Area Agency on Aging, where
he served 4 years. He also served on Community Health Care’s board of
directors for six years. Jim enjoys spending time with his fraternal
organizations such as, Davenport Lodge #37, AF and AM, Scottish Rite
and the Kaaba Shrine.



It
wasn’t long before Jim became involved again with the labor movement
through the QC Federation of Labor – as well as a couple locals. On
occasion, Jim joined his brothers on the picket lines because he
believed in what they were doing. “Labor was were I started 50 years
before and that is where I’ve ended up.”  He also said, “Someone
has to be the chief but I would much rather be one of the Indians. I
have wanted to stay politically involved but keep it on the lower level
throughout my life. I would much rather put the ball cap on and sit in
the back with my working friends.” I found myself marveling at the
unusual combination of power, passion and humility in this man. He is
truly a gentle giant.



Jim also
belongs to the QC Alliance for Retired Americans and serves as Vice
President on the executive board in the state of Illinois. The QC
Alliance covers a 50 mile radius and is the only chapter that covers
parts of two states. Jim is the only Iowa officer. Befitting his true
nature as a natural born leader, the QC Federation of Labor has chosen
Jim to be the Grand Marshall in this year’s East Moline Labor Day
parade!



Like
many of us, Jim is very concerned about the direction of the country. I
asked him what he would be looking for in a candidate during the
upcoming 2006 elections and he adamantly expressed his concern over the
current healthcare crisis in this country. He said, “Any candidate who
pledges to work for universal healthcare for all and do away with this
profit driven system that we have would be a candidate for me. For
too long, big money and special interests have controlled our
government.” Jim passionately believes that there is only one answer to
the healthcare crisis in America and that is to go to a universal type
of healthcare system that will cover everybody. “Currently healthcare
is only for the privileged few – the only nation in the free world that
doesn’t consider healthcare an absolute right. We hear the wonderful
words of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but what could be more
pertinent to life than health care! We could cover everyone in
this country as effectively as Germany and do it for a minimum of 20%,
maybe up to 33% of the current costs so the argument
that we can’t afford it is unrealistic because we are currently
spending more than any country in the world on healthcare.”



In
addition to the many struggles that Jim has faced with his own life,
Doris was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2000. During
surgery, 22 lymph nodes were removed; 12 of which were found to be
cancerous. After extensive radiation treatment it was discovered that
the cancer went into her bones. More radiation treatment ensued and the
cancer seemed to go into remission until very recently. Doris was given
a life expectancy of 1 year – that was almost 4 years ago now. Recent
tests have shown that the measure of cancer in the blood has increased. Doris has officially died on two occasions.
During one of those incidents, Jim had to give her CPR until the
paramedics arrived. When they took Doris to the hospital, she had no
pulse. Miraculously she bounced back. I was wondering if I would meet
anyone as strong-willed and tenacious as Jim, but now I know I have –
in the person of his wife, Doris. Once again, to add insult to injury,
the company she represented refused to honor her COBRA!



Another
story pertaining to healthcare involves Jim’s son, Russell, and his
family. His son was in covert action special forces. He has earned 3
purples hearts as well as a shoe box full of other medal citations. He
has parachuted into hostile action on three different continents. He
was finally discharged from the service in 1988. Shortly thereafter his
wife became pregnant. They were living in El Paso, Texas which happens
to have the distinction of having the highest number of uninsured in
the entire nation. Russell’s wife, Bea, is originally from Germany.
Their child, Tiffany, was born handicapped, so Bea gave Russell an
ultimatum; since the child would have special needs she wanted to go
back to
Germany to raise their daughter because she knew she would get the
proper
healthcare that she desperately needed. Russell was not willing to
leave America at that time so Bea took the baby and went back to
Germany and Russell stayed in the Chicago area. With the help of his
sister he raised their other two children. Russell was later called up
and re-deployed to Desert Storm, but upon being discharged in 1991, he
came home,
picked up his two children and moved to Germany to be with the rest of
his family. Their child requires a series of operations until she is in
her early 20's. Russell made the statement, “I refuse to live in a
country with a baby who has no insurance, is uninsurable, and unable to
get proper care… I refuse to live there!” Jim asked Russell, “Is this
what you fought and potentially died for?” Russell responded by saying he thought
he fought for freedom and doing the right thing in the world. Jim
pointed out to his son, “This is an example of some of the warts on the
beautiful lady here
called America – The healthcare system.”

Jim continues to share his
story in the hopes of helping others and to raise awareness on this
very important issue. Jim is also involved with Progressive Action for
the Common Good’s Health Care Forum.



Jim and
Doris’ young daughter had a stroke a few years back which resulted in
disability. Despite the overwhelming challenges before them, where many
would have wanted to give up, it seems to have only strengthened their
resolve to fight for all that is right in this world, due to their love
of each other, their love of family, their country, and their
community. Jim says his greatest achievement is to have earned the love
and respect of his “brothers and sisters.”


I know I speak for many when I say the world is a better place with you in it Jim Hughes!



Here’s to you Grand Marshall! Nothin’ but love!