Garchow loses leukemia fight
Don Day | September 23, 2009
Jim Garchow died this week. He was 72.
Garchow could easily be called a broadcast pioneer: he helmed KUPI country radio for three decades. He could be called a sports icon: he was the voice of the Idaho Falls Chukars for as long as anyone could remember. He could be called a medical miracle: he was one of the first people ever to receive a heart transplant. You might even call him the world’s oldest high schooler: he did play-by-play for Skyline high school… football and basketball.
Whatever label you hang on Garchow, he’s been a big part of Idaho radio for a long time. He died Sunday of complications of leukemia after a long battle.
Jim got a couple of bonus decades — after a heart attack twenty years ago, he got one of the first heart transplants ever performed.
He kept going right until the end. He called the Cukars game on September 7th – 13 days before his death. He had the longest affiliation with any minor league baseball team in the country, according to KIFI.
One of his daughters talked to KIFI Local News 8:
“Yeeeesss!” I remember Jim saying as I'd walk into his office. Jim was tough but one of the kindest people I had the opportunity to work with. I happend to live in the bay area and I went to visit him back in 1984 at Stanford University Medical Center. Jim was waiting patiently for a heart to come in as he was first on the list. He was smiling as usual the entire time we visited. I worked for him at Q-99 in '79 and '80 and then again in '84 for a short while before I went to KLCE. He chewed me out for that move. I board-oped many a game that landed during my show and I always grumbled to him that I'd rather be playing music… He just laughed and told me I could want in one hand… you know the rest. I always loved his daughters but they had the good sense to stay away from the radio guys. God bless the Garchow family. I'm sure he has a seat in the press box in the sky for Jim. “Call 'em as you see 'em”!
Eastern Idaho radio will never be the same. He was one of the good guys.
Idaho Falls baseball will never be the same without Jim. I recall listening to so many games with his baritone voice calling the action. I guess the plates off switch on the transmitter hit too early!
I never worked for him, but had the opportunity to talk to him on a number of occasions. I'll never forget the night he called me when I was programming a station across town to tell me that I had not powered down. He gave me a kind, but stern warning that I'll never forget!
Jim was a person we all respected in the community, and an unforgettable icon in the Idaho broadcast scene.
man oh man i used to talk with jim at least 3 times a year from kcid when we had one of our coverage teams going to idaho falls or twin. many a game he called for us and was the most professional sportscaster i ever boarded for. he was a tough guy but a fair guy. he is what good radio broadcasting and sports play by play was all about. rest in peace my friend and save me a seat to do color for you
in that big skybox. my condolences to the family….your loss is felt here in the treasure valley too.
I got to meet Jim twice when passing through between Missoula and Park City for a business trip that just happened to coincide with a Missoula-IF baseball game every year. The first time I had no idea who he was, but was introduced by the Missoula radio guy, and had a 20 minute conversation about anything and everything under the sun, which repeated when I showed up the next year. He even remembered me!
He was more than nice to me, a greenie, when he didn't have to be – and told great stories to boot – and I'll always remember that.
Good man, sad story.
He was awesome in his work. R.I.P
Jim was a man about family, community and committment. I had the honor of not only working some games with him but knowing him and socializing with him and his family on a number of occasions. A more devoted father you cannot find. Since my move from the eastern Idaho area several years back, my wife and I have often remarked about how missed the times we went “bowling” after a h.s.football game with Jim and his family.
R.I.P. Jim and God Bless your wonderful family.
I remember Jim as the “cowboy who rode into town in a Cadillac” back in the late 60's. I also remember the day he had his heart attack. His only concern was who was going to do the local high school game that day. Wish I could remember names before Dennis Carlson. I worked with Jim in the late 60's and early 70's when KUPI was a great country station. Someone might remember me and I hope they will contact me. Jim was a very special person to me and my short (15 yr) career in radio. Little Shep here, Glenn Frank
KUPI was always a great country station. Talking to Dan Kelly after my shift ended on the FM (Top 40) and his had just begun on the AM (country), helped me to land a couple of major market (#28 & #4) gigs at country stations. Dennis was there as well as his little brother Gary. I think Kelly Beckstead did some time at KUPI. Wells Brady was a fixture back then as well as Vi and Carol in the office. Jane Blasius, Linda Patrick and my pal Phylis Kerr were the sales crew led by Gary Patrick, Jim's play-by-play sidekick. Bill Powell had the news desk and elody Mike montgomery would make an appearance here and there. Lots of fun radio memories…
Thank you Jim for reminding me that Gary Patrick and Carol were there when I was. There was one other person and of course, Bill Powell. It's so interesting that when I moved to Oregon, one of the first people I met was Bill's son Peter. I still see him and Bill's ex-wife from time to time. Wells Brady and I were good friends as he was the local engineer working under Old Shep from Flagstaff. It's been 35 years since my stint at KUPI but over the years I talked with Jim many times about this and that. Unfortunately, it's been a few since I had contact with him. He was a great radio man and I'm sure Idaho Falls will miss him.
One more interesting note, after I left KUPI and went back to Pocatello before moving to Oregon, he hired me to wire the new studios in the old service station. This was just before they bought the fm. That was a fun job. hehe
I knew Jim while in the navy. We witnessed 5 hydrogen bomb
detonations while out in the south Pacific in 1956. He was the
highest scorer on the USS Lipan’s Championship basketball
team in 1957. -John J. Lesjack, California 2010