Capitol Honors for KVMC/KAUM’s Jim Baum
posted on 4.19.2021- Beloved Broadcaster, Colorado City Mayor
Companion bills seeking to designate a portion of Business Interstate Highway 20-J in Colorado City as the James G. "Jim" Baum Memorial Highway are advancing in the 87th Texas Legislature.
On Monday, the Texas Senate approved SB 1124 by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, in a 31-0 vote on the Senate’s local calendar.
Last week the House Transportation Committee approved the companion bill, HB 2228 by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.
TAB expects SB 1124 will be swapped for the House bill when the latter makes an appearance on a House calendar for a floor vote.
Baum, the longtime owner-operator of KVMC-AM and KAUM-FM, both in Colorado City, passed away Dec. 16, 2018, after a battle with leukemia.
He served as Colorado City mayor three times, holding the position for a total of more than 20 years.
After a baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league team ended, Baum began his broadcast career working at stations in Abilene, Midland-Odessa, and Big Spring.
He achieved a lifetime goal of owning his own station when he purchased KVMC-AM (“the Voice of Mitchell County”) in 1980.
Baum would go on to serve the community for nearly 40 years and many considered him the real voice of Mitchell County.
He signed KAUM-FM on the air in the 1980’s.
Baum is well remembered by those in Mitchell County and by the TAB staff as a tireless public servant, whether it was leading Colorado City through challenging times as mayor or by his dedication to reporting the day’s events in his radio newscasts.
If wildfires or a tornado threatened the area, day or night, he was on the air with lifesaving information.
Baum also brought Mitchell County history alive with on-air stories about the area’s past events.
He wrote three books, one of which was a collection of Mitchell County trivia and history.
Continue reading TAB's news item on Baum's passing
Questions? Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.
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