James Richard (Jim) Craig died peacefully Friday, October 19, 2012 at the age of 89. Jim was a 1943 graduate of Missouri State Teachers College (now Missouri State University). He began his career as manager of the Springfield Credit Bureau and was manager of the Better Business Bureau for 35 years Jim devoted much of his life to public service. He was a member of the Springfield Lion's Club, the Springfield Shrine Club, and the Springfield Park Board. He was president of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and president of the Ozarks Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Because of his contributions to the Springfield Jaycees, Jim was selected as their Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1954. He also received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts and the Liberty Bell Award from the Springfield Missouri Bar Association. Jim was a lifelong advocate of higher education and taught adult education at Drury College for many years. He was a member of the Southwest Missouri State University Board of Governers for six years and served as its president. Jim received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University in 2007. He had a passion for public speaking and gave motivational speeches all over the country, including Alaska and Hawaii. Known publically as "The Good Humor Man," he spoke to such corporations as Phillips Petroleum, 3M, and Southwestern Bell. He was twice commissioned as an "Admiral" in the Nebraska Navy and awarded honorary memberships in such organizations as the Missouri National Guard and the Iowa Assessors Association. Jim's family was the center of his life, and he and Ruth treasured their frequent visits and vacations with their children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruth; daughter, Ruth Ann Johnson; son, Jim Craig, Jr. and his wife, Diane; grandsons and their wives, Jeff and Yumi Goswick; David and Beth Goswick, Scott and Traci Craig, Steven and Erin Craig, and Benjamin and Sarah Craig; and great-grandchildren, Jessica, Eli, Elyssa, and Logan Goswick, Matthew, Lindsey, and Lauren Craig, and Jonah Sarabia. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, October 22, 2012 at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. before the service, and burial will be in Maple Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made through Gorman-Scharf to the Jim and Ruth Craig Endowment Fund, College of Education, Missouri State University.