James “Jimmy”/“Jim” Gordon Johnson, 81, of Richmond, IN, entered his heavenly home on June 16, 2023.
Jimmy was born on December 4th, 1941 in Winchester. As a youngster, Jimmy enjoyed participating in soap box derbies, ultimately competing in the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship. He was a personal driver for Hagerstown’s famous Ralph Teetor and mowed the grounds of the Teetor estate. After graduating from Hagerstown High School in 1959, he became a part of the Indiana University Marching Hundred, then went on to study at Indiana State University in Terre Haute for 3.5 years.
Jim was well known as a jazz drummer over the decades. He played in various bands, toured around the country with the Lou Mitten Trio, sat in for Wild Bill Davis, and in later years performed with Richmond’s jazz band, Moment’s Notice.
Jim worked for Dana Corporation in Syracuse for many years before retiring in 2002. He relocated to Richmond to live out the rest of his years working various security jobs, playing…