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HISTORY

Life and Times Of Jim Ware

This story of the life and times of Jim Ware has been written and presented in a light-hearted way. Please enjoy the old clippings, photos, memorabilia and presentation with that fact in mind.
It has been a colorful journey and the information presented here should shine a light on that fact.

2023
Superior Auction School represented at the 1996 NCHA Futurity Sales. L to R: Jim Ware, Ben Emison, Ike Hamilton, Keith Babb.

Superior Auction School represented at the 1996 NCHA Futurity Sales. L to R: Jim Ware, Ben Emison, Ike Hamilton, Keith Babb.

Colonel Ike and Superior Auction School

What Am I Bid?

We understandably had many "likes" and discussions generated from our Facebook Post on Throwback Thursday, November 2,  of Jim and Col. Ike. After that, an interesting post appeared about the 57th Anniversary of the movie WHAT AM I BID? - See here - opens in Facebook.

The movie and Leroy Van Dyke's famous song "The Auctioneer" were about the life of a legendary auctioneer, Ray Sims. Col. Ike's tie to all of this is that he and Ray Sims, along with other famous auctioneers - Hugh James, Dale Hanna and Paul Good, were partners in and instructors at the Superior School of Auctioneering in Decatur, Illinois, in the 1970's. Leroy Van Dyke was the cousin of Ray Sims and also a part-time instructor at Superior.

Jim graduated from high school in 1975 and attended Superior that summer, prior to entering Louisiana Tech University.

A few other well-known auction professionals who attended Superior include Keith Babb, Ben Emison, E.C. Larkin, Joe Mitcham, Tracy Harl, Mike Jennings, Tim Jennings and Tony Langdon.

Ike was very proud to be a part of Superior and proud of all the auctioneers that completed the program there.

2023

Life-Time Friends

Old Friends (folks. horses, dogs, cats, burros, cows) are treasures.  Follow our updates as we load images that have been collected over a lifetime.

1975

Auctioneering

Auctions and auctioneers were among Jim's favorite things. One of his most influential and best friends, Ike Hamilton, lived in the neighboring town of West Monroe, Louisiana. Ike would be invited to sell at the family livestock auctions when a registered group of cattle were offered. In those years, Ike was a co-owner of the Superior School Of Auctioneering in Decatur, Illinois. Jim spent the summer between his high school senior year and his college freshman year at that school, and became a licensed auctioneer.

1968

Stallion Owner

As time passed, Jim became interested in cutting horses - learning from and showing with local trainers like Wray Crabtree and Jimmy Orrell. Riding and showing grew into the business of standing one of his cutters, the stallion Hollywood II. This is a copy of an ad that was run in a local magazine.

1965

Showman

Of course, what would a livestock operation be without a good horse? Horsemanship was a must on every workday. Jim helped gather, sort, pen and work cattle on various quarter horses. He also enjoyed the various equine sports which included barrel racing (see his mother's detailed note on this memorabilia) and going to playdays as a youngster.

1964

Ringman

Jim began his "auction career" working the ring in his early years in the family owned livestock sale business...watching the crowd, the auctioneer and taking bids. A future auctioneer and horse sale manager in the making.

1962

Pedigree Specialist

Influenced by people and horses in his home area, Jim developed an early fascination for pedigrees. It is said that Jim could recite pedigrees when others his age could do the same with nursery rhymes. He would spend countless hours entertaining himself by composing pedigrees and footnotes (on hunting dogs, registered cattle...virtually anything he could imagine).

1959

Cowboy Jim 1959

Having grown up in a versatile, multi-generational family livestock business, horses have always been the focus of Jim's life. Outfitted appropriately in cowboy attire for the presentation of Red Cross membership in 1959.

Jim Ware © 2023