by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Today is the first of a series of stories on area executives and political and community leaders who have played prominent roles in the development of Downtown or Jacksonville as a whole over the years. Some are still in the area, working or retired or a bit of both. Some have moved away and are working in other areas of the state or country. The series starts with former BellSouth executive Jim McCollum.
“People tell me I’m the model for retirement,” said Jim McCollum last week from his home in Amelia Island.
After a 34-year career with BellSouth, McCollum retired two years ago but hasn’t slowed down at all. Being active in the community and serving on a variety of boards of directors while he was with BellSouth is also part of McCollum’s retirement plan.
He’s currently serving on Compass Bank’s board of directors and was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Florida Community College at Jacksonville board of trustees and holds a similar position with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
McCollum said it would be hard to choose which he likes better, the time he spent in the telecommunications corporate world or retirement.
“I enjoy both my job and what I’m able to do now equally. There couldn’t have been a more interesting time to have been at BellSouth than the 34 years I was there,” he said, then added the schedule of a full-time top executive plus community service did mean having a pretty hectic schedule for all those years. “It was a breakfast meeting, a lunch meeting, a dinner meeting and a reception most days. Now I’m more in control of my own schedule, which is nice.”
Another good thing about retirement is the opportunity to travel, he added. In the last two years the itinerary has included Charleston, Savannah, Hawaii, Montana, Las Vegas, Sweden, Abaco and Newfoundland.
“It’s nice to be able to get out of the North Florida heat in July and August. For years, friends have said to my wife and me, ‘Let’s get together,’ but we never could do it. Now we can. But we limit the visits to two days so we’re all still friends after the trip,” he said jokingly.
Retirement has also meant more time for another of McCollum’s passions — fishing. He particularly enjoys the in-shore action and spends a lot of time on the water with fishing guide Kirk Waltz.
“He’s by far the best charter captain I have ever known,” said McCollum, who also said he’s sticking to shallow-water angling. “I’ve never seen a fish worth losing sight of land for.”
At McCollum’s retirement party State Sen. Jim King predicted a career in politics for the guest of honor. Might public office be part of Jim McCollum’s retirement plan?
“I don’t see that as part of the future for me,” he said. “But I’ve learned over the years to never say never.”
What he did
Retired in June 2006 as Regional Director of Corporate and External Affairs after a 34-year career with BellSouth.
Past chair of the Gator Bowl Association, Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Northeast Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Dreams Come True, Scripps Florida Funding Corporation and other organizations. He also served on the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Board and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Tourism Task Force.
What he’s doing now
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees and Florida Community College at Jacksonville Board of Trustees, Jacksonville Aviation Authority board member, Compass Bank board member, AvMed Community Advisory Board member. He also travels and is an avid sportsman.