James R. Christy

#75 James Raymond “Jim” Christy (1930-2011) Aug. 1993-1997

James Raymond Christy, son of Glenn Christy and Anabel Raymond, was born March 4, 1930 in Vinton, Benton County, Iowa. He graduated from Vinton High School in 1947 and enrolled at Iowa State University. He graduated from Iowa State in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy.

While waiting for the call-up during the Korean Conflict, he took summer employment as the Story County 4-H Youth Assistant. He entered the U. S. Army in the fall of 1951 serving 18 months with occupation forces in Salzburg, Austria as a personnel sergeant.

Upon discharge from the service in 1953, he returned to the Story County Extension Office and once again became the Extension’s Youth Assistant. He married Dorothy J. Olson, daughter of Magnus Olai Olson and Ella Halsne, on November 19, 1955 in Roland, Iowa and the couple settled in Nevada. In 1956, Mr. Christy became the Story County Extension Director. He continued to pursue his education and in 1966 he completed his Master’s degree in vocational agriculture in 1966.

In 1986 he retired from the Extension Office. From 1986 to 1993 he served as an advisor of off-campus students in the master of agriculture degree program and instructed courses in ag economics and served as team member to the Czech and Slovak Republics as part of an ISU management training and economics education program.

When Nevada mayor, Burnell “Hugo” Hagen suddenly resigned in July 1993, Jim Christy was nominated and confirmed by city council as mayor of Nevada on July 19, 1993. Acknowledging a factious city council, he faced a “challenge…as mayor to pull the group together.” In November of 1993, Jim Christy ran and was elected mayor serving a full term from 1994 to 1997.

James Christy served on the Nevada Park and Recreation Board for twelve years, the S.C.O.R.E. finance campaign from 1999-2000, Nevada Chamber of Commerce Board and Nevada Economic Development Board. He served on several school bond issue committees for facility improvements. He was on the State Bank and Trust Board of Directors for 36 years. He was active in his church, community organizations and veterans organizations. He received a number of community awards, leadership awards, distinguished service awards and citizenship awards during and following his career.

James Raymond Christy died on April 5, 2011 in Story City. He was survived by his wife; a daughter, Julie (Christy) Bisher; and a son, Jon Christy.