Jim Lippard

There’s little doubt that Jim Lippard was a man with diversified talents and interests.  You need an example?  Go ahead and try to find the common denominator between tailoring and photography.

And yet, he excelled at both.

Or better still, consider baseball.  Outside of his valued family, baseball was his life’s blood.  He was a familiar fixture with the Post 8 American Legion baseball team, first as its athletic director (for 23 years) and then as the Jim Leonard Post 8 commander.  This was followed by a stint as the Area III Commissioner for two four-year terms, which culminated in the N. C. American Legion State Tournament being played at Holt-Moffitt Field.

Baseball was always nearby.  When Post 8 could no longer financially support its American Legion team in the 1980s, Lippard took it upon himself to establish both corporate and private sponsorships to keep the team on the field.

James Bernard “Jim” Lippard, 88 of Lexington, passed away September 19, 2024, at his home in Lexington.  He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Ann Goodrum Lippard; daughters, Lisa Davis, Julie Barker (Paul) and Jamie Bell (Allen); Grandchildren, Chris Davis (Jessica), Luke Davis (Carmen), Neil Barker (Kayla) and Morgan Bell-Robinson (Joe); Great grandchildren, Peyton, Roper, Savannah, Madelyn and Christian; and Great-great grandson, Wesson.  Jim was predeceased by his parents, Haze and Leo Everhart Lippard and a son-in-law, Tracy Davis.

A graduate of Lexington Senior High School, Lippard was a catcher for both the Yellow Jackets (he was a four-year letterman and team captain in 1954) and the Post 8 Legion baseball teams.

He studied for a semester at Catawba College before being drafted by the U.S. Army during the Korean War era.  Upon his return to civilian life, he worked in his father’s dry cleaning business, where he taught himself the craft of tailoring after purchasing self-help books on pattern drafting and garment construction.

By 1984, following the death of his father, Lippard opened his own shop, Lippard’s Tailors.  But it was more than just about buttons and zippers.  Built on the strength of his always friendly personality, accented by his trademark snow-white mustachioed smile, the business became a cozy destination place for comfort and conversation for both himself and his clientele.

Lippard also developed an interest in ham radio (W4UIJ) and photography following his military days.

Photography, in fact, became a passion for him.  After purchasing an 8mm Bell & Howell movie camera while in high school, he soon began taking pictures everywhere – including from the sky, where he dabbled in aerial photography over Davidson County.

Soon after, he was shooting wedding pictures, and before long, he had his own studio.

He also served as a Scoutmaster for 11 years as well as both Pee-Wee and Little League coach.

As if he wasn’t involved enough in his many projects, he was struck by inspiration in 2002 when he founded the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame.  It’s growth and importance to the community is a testament to Lippard’s vision to fill a need in what had become a void in the area’s sports culture.

His contributions have not gone unrecognized.  He was inducted into the North Carolina American Legion Hall of Fame in 2000 and became a member of the Piedmont Historical Society Hall of Fame in 2006.  Then, in 2009, he was inducted into the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2015, he was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.

In 2017, the City of Lexington dedicated the Jim Lippard Field House in his name at Holt-Moffitt Field.

He was a lifelong member of Second United Church of Christ and served as an usher, member of the consistory, ordained as Deacon and served as an Elder.

And that common denominator?  Turns out it was nearly everyone he met who enjoyed the presence of his company.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Davidson Funeral Home Chapel, 301 North Main Street, Lexington, NC on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. with visitation to follow.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jim’s memory to the Jim Leonard American Legion Post 8, 206 Wilfred Avenue, Lexington, NC 27292.

The family invites you to share your favorite stories about Jim to: rememberingLip@gmail.com