A hundred or so of the city’s business and political leaders turned out Wednesday evening to wish BellSouth’s Jim McCollum well in his retirement and wonder what he’ll do next.
McCollum, who retires June 30 as the company’s leader here, says his only plans are “to keep living on Amelia Island and take the three trips my wife has planned so I’ll get out of the North Florida heat in July and August.”
Others had other ideas. State Sen. Jim King predicted that McCollum will someday “be an elected official and I can’t wait to help you.”
As head of the phone company, McCollum carried political and business weight and the gathering reflected his past leadership in the Chamber, the Gator Bowl Association, the University of North Florida, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and TV-7, where the party was held.