Jim McCammon was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. His father was a Methodist minister, and he spent his school days in small towns across Arkansas, attending six different schools in thirteen years. He graduated from Harrison High School and attended the University of Central Arkansas until the passing of his father. He returned home to Harrison to care for his mother and sister and shortly thereafter started his fire service career.

The fire service was not a job for Jim but a lifestyle. He served at the Harrison Fire Department off and on for almost 30 years. He worked to create the code enforcement division and became Harrison’s first fire inspector. He was the founding president of Local 2995 and active in the state fire marshal’s association. He retired as captain on January 31, 2007.

Among the awards he received were the Fire Safety Commendation Medal and the Arkansas Fire Marshal’s Association Lifetime Member for Outstanding Service. Most recently, the Harrison Fire Department Training Tower was named in his honor in 2019.

Over the years, he was an advocate for firefighters and a great encourager to the young guys coming into the fire service. He had a big heart, always wanting to help as indicated by his high school nickname “Big Daddy.” A friend once said, “If you needed a man covering your back, this was the man.”

When he wasn’t working at the fire department, he enjoyed canoeing and kayaking the Buffalo National River, bicycling (he once rode 100 miles in one day), chasing hot air balloons, and traveling (between health events) with his wife, Mollie. He spent many summers working at Buffalo Outdoor Center and then Buffalo River Outfitters as a boat ape and bus driver. One title that Jim cherished was crew chief for the Miss Arkansas hot air balloon, providing “bird dog chase” and the great adventures and relationships he experienced through ballooning.

Jim developed kidney cancer five years after retirement and then liver cancer four years later. These cancers were not related. We fought it, but Jim passed away twelve years after retirement.

Jim loved God and his family. He leaves behind his wife, Mollie; a son, Zach; grandchildren, Zane, Jace, Aiden, and Ellie; and many friends that miss him still.

He has been described as one of the good guys, a faithful servant, humble, kind, wise, and a dear friend. Jim, you were a gift to all of us, and we love you the most. Numbers 6:24-26