Age Is an Attitude

This book is intended to provide a combination of new ideas and information with many things of which you may have some knowledge. You may notice that it has a positive spin from beginning to end. There is nothing inherently negative about living a long life. Hopefully you will read it with the understanding that the words here are the result of some of what has been learned over the years.

This book is intended to provide a combination of new ideas and information with many things of which you may have some knowledge. It is a short read. You may notice that it has a positive spin from beginning to end. There is nothing inherently negative about living a long life. There is certainly no requirement for you to agree with all that I say here. Merely take what suits you and serves your personal needs and leave the rest. It may be ideal for a restful afternoon or in-flight reading. Hopefully you will read it with the understanding that the words here are the result of some of what has been learned over the years. I express my opinion frequently on these pages. I make no apology for that. I only say that I sincerely hope that when you finish this book you have a better understanding about your own personal journey through the later stages of your life, and, that you will have a deeper appreciation for your family and friends who have reached that time. For it should be the happiest and most fulfilling time of your and their lives.

Jim Tilmon was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma. His parents were both educators. His father, George W. Tilmon, Sr., was a school administrator and his mother was an elementary school teacher. He had no sisters, and only one brother, George, Jr. Jim attended elementary schools in Hominy and Boley, Oklahoma. At the age of five, he saw his first airplane flying overhead in Hominy and decided that day that he would someday become a pilot. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. At that time, his father was the school’s principal. His interest in music started in high school. He was the school’s drum major and principal clarinetist in the concert band. Jim attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., Maryland State College in Princess Anne, Maryland, Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville, Tennessee and Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. His majors were chemistry, music and education. He finished his undergraduate studies at Lincoln and accepted an ROTC commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While on active duty, he served at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Camp Gary, Texas, Fort Rucker, Alabama, Fort Wolters, Texas, Hanau, Germany and Fort Benning, Georgia. He became an Army aviator, flying fixed wing and rotary aircraft, and left the Army with the rank of Captain. While serving in Germany, Jim started and conducted the “Hanau Community Chorus” and performed live concerts in many parts of West Germany and on American Forces Network Radio. He completed his military commitment to begin a career as a commercial airline pilot for American Airlines. He was among the first five African-Americans to fly for a commercial airline in the United States. He flew his entire airline career out of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. He played principal clarinet for the Lake Forest Symphony and played E-flat clarinet for the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. Jim started his television career while still flying a full schedule for American. His first show was one he conceived and hosted on Chicago’s Channel 11 PBS station. The program was called "Our People" the first of its kind in the nation, a show of, for and by Black people. He left Channel 11 and produced an Emmy Award-winning magazine format program called “Tilmon Tempo” on Chicago’s NBC TV, Channel 5. Later, he became the weathercaster and aviation reporter for Channel 5 News. All of this as he continued and completed a 29 year career with American Airlines. After almost 25 years on NBC, Jim retired from TV and moved to Arizona. He and his wife Joan operated Carpe Diem Productions, an audio/visual production company. After eight years in Arizona, Chicago’s CBS TV station, Channel 2, asked him to return to Chicago and he became their afternoon weathercaster and aviation reporter. He started there at the age of 68. Three years later, Jim and Joan returned to Arizona, where they reside at the time of this writing. Well into his 70s, he continues to reinvent himself as he serves on several boards and embarks on new and different businesses. His three children, James Jr., Thera and John and his five grandchildren all live in Illinois.