George D. Hay Hall of Fame
There have been many great thrills in this man’s life, but maybe none bigger than September 15, 2002, when Jim was inducted into the George D. Hay Hall of Fame. Hay, known as the Solemn Old Judge, was the founder of the Grand Ole Opry. In the photographs, Jim is shown with his late wife, Yvette; Hall of Famer Eddie Stubbs of WSM and Bluegrass fame; with his son, Rusty (James Keith Owen); and in the last photo with Jean Shepard. Eddie and Jean were inducted into the Hall of Fame the same day as Jim.
An unbelievable thing happened to Jim in 2003. Thirty years ago his house was burglarized and a guitar, among many other items, was stolen. The guitar was used to write many of Jim’s hit songs, but even though his name was on it, it never turned up. Then last year it went up for sale on eBay. Jim contacted the police department in Nashville and they checked it out. The man who had it told the officers he played fiddle in Jim’s band 30-years-ago and Jim gave it to him. Wrong!!!! Jim didn’t have a fiddle player in his band 30-years-ago. He got the guitar back. His son Rusty claimed it at the police station and delivered it to Dad in Branson.
Congratulations:
Suzi had her baby at 11:30 p.m. on 10-10-2006. She named her Olivia. She is just as lovely as Suzi. Congratulations!!
"I PRAYED AND I PRAYED" written by Jim and recorded by James Marvell went #1 in the "Gospel Field". That's another hit song added to the long list of hit songs written by Jim.
