PAYMENT INNOVATIONS FOR A CHANGING WORLD.

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In his wake, he leaves a legacy of generosity and intentionality. From being the board chair for Hospice of Wake County for two years to being on the chain gang at North Raleigh Christian Academy’s varsity football team, he made time for the things he cared about most and always put his family at the top of that list. No matter how busy his schedule was, he always made it home for dinner and could make you laugh so hard your stomach hurt.

On any given weekend, you could find him and his family on the farm tackling some new project, enjoying a lunch of canned sardines and pork and beans on the tailgate of his blue 1986 Ford pickup truck (the “Blue Mule”), playing pool with the Walk the Line soundtrack playing on loop, and watching an old movie in front of the fire. And on Sunday nights, he made barbeque chicken.

Craig will always be the least retired “retired” person any of us have ever known. He pursued his goals, both personal and professional, with fervor. He was never one for idle hands, and he took great care to instill that same work ethic in his kids. He had held himself and everyone around him to a higher standard, a pillar of which was “do it right the first time.”

Craig and his brother Tommy purchased West Brothers Transfer from their parents in 1974. They grew West Brothers from a small family business into one of Business of North Carolina’s Top 100 Private Companies and Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 Motor Carriers. By the time they sold the business in 2010, they had received awards for their business practices and were considered the safest truckline in North Carolina. Their partnership continued after the sale with short- and long-term storage containers (Containers4Less) and trailers (West Brothers Trailer Rental). Craig took pride in their commitment to offering quality products for a fair price and their speedy, often same day, deliveries.

Craig was an avid hunter all his life. What started with a love for duck hunting in his youth grew into a pursuit of big game in his retirement. He traveled around the world hunting and fishing, but the trips he cherished the most were the ones he shared with Leslee, the love of his life. In 2019, they spent their 25th anniversary hunting together in Mexico, where he got his recordwinning desert sheep. That same year, he was inducted into Boone and Crockett Club’s Wilderness Warrior Society, which recognizes and honors members’ commitment to wildlife conservation. He was steadfast in his dedication to wildlife conservation and management, and he contributed to organizations that actively prioritized their dedication to the same, chief among which were the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Wild Sheep Foundation, and Safari Club International.

One of his greatest joys in life was sharing his love and appreciation of the outdoors with the next generation. He always looked forward to youth hunts at Douglas Hill Farm, even after his own kids had aged out. He grounded every hunt and mentorship opportunity in prayer, fellowship, and safety. He was a true sportsman, who loved the Lord and considered it a blessing every time he was outside, surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. Being a part of so many young hunters’ journeys was a treasure for which he was eternally grateful. WS

Jim Bailey

Prof. James Allen Bailey of Belgrade, MT, finally let go the mortal coil on May 30, 2023. He had just finished mowing the lawn and sat down to rest on the back porch to gaze at his “shining mountains,” fell asleep and did not wake up. He died knowing the Cubs had won that day. He was aged 89 years and 16 days. He met his bride, Natalie Ann Jewett, in Syracuse while busing tables at the Savoy Restaurant. He told her his name was George G. George said she believed him for weeks. Jim and Nan enjoyed travelling the wide-open road in several different motor homes throughout the years and particularly enjoyed the Southwest. He often sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her and she always made sure he had cookies in the cookie jar.

Jim served as a researcher in the Army Chemical Corps when he was drafted in 1960. He began his long career as an instructor of Wildlife Management at the University of Montana in 1964. He then joined the faculty in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins where he remained from 1969 until 1991. Upon retiring, he took a position as Assistant Director of Conservation Services at the New Mexico Game and Fish in Santa Fe, serving from 1991 through 1994. He also consulted for several tribes and reservations seeking input on managing their big game populations. Jim and Nan moved to Belgrade in 2005 where he began to study, write about and tirelessly advocate for wild bison.

Jim was the author of several books and numerous publications and articles in the field of wildlife management, including The Principles of Wildlife Management and American Plains Bison, Rewilding an Icon. He and his many graduate students conducted extensive research and collectively contributed many publications while observing bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat populations in Colorado. Jim’s last crusade was as coordinator of the Montana Wild Bison Restoration Coalition, seeking to reintroduce wild bison to the CM Russell Wildlife Refuge.

He was a member of the Colorado and New Mexico chapters of The Wildlife Society, The Gallatin Wildlife Association, a Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, the Desert Bighorn Council and the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council. He was also an official member of the Die Hard Cub Fan Club since 1944 and lived to see “the day hell froze over.” WS