JAMES P. DELONG

Mr. James Jim P. DeLong, age 66, died Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008 at his home in Jefferson City. He was born on June 19, 1941, in Jefferson City, a son of Fred J. and Mary Schwartzrock DeLong. Jim was a member of Helias inaugural sophomore class, graduating as a National Merit Scholar in 1959 and is credited with naming the Helias High School mascot, the Crusaders. Jim graduated in four years with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1963 from the then five-year program at Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, where he was a Kappa Alpha and NCAA Bridge champion. Jim joined DeLong's Incorporated as a sales engineer, which was a small steel fabrication and steel joist manufacturing company started by his two older brothers from their father's blacksmith shop following WWII. Jim opened a sales office in Denver, CO, in order to expand DeLongs western territory over the next three years. He then returned to Jefferson City to help with management of the company and the task of increasing bridge sales in surrounding territories. He served as Vice President for Purchasing, Production Management, Plant Engineering, and Sales for the last thirty years. As a result, you may now cross a DeLongs steel bridge in over 20 states. In 2002, Jim was inducted into the Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers at the University of Missouri at Rolla. Jim was one of the founders of the National Steel Bridge Alliance, an organization of steel bridge manufacturers and steel producers; was selected by the Rotary Foundation to participate in a three month Exchange Fellowship to study business and culture in England; was past director of Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of the Committee on Transportation Infrastructure; Director of the Jaycees; Chairman of the Cole County Fair; and past Director of the Jefferson City YMCA. Jim was an avid reader, vegetable gardener, experimental gourmet, and life-long philatelist. He also loved to experience foreign cultures and pubs, and enjoyed friendly debates and discussion, employing his vast encyclopedic knowledge and wit. He is survived by four grown children (with wife of 13 years, Teresa DeLong Batye of Holts Summit): Michelle Hedges and husband Robert of St. Louis, Lisa Mankin and husband Kurt of Jefferson City, Jay DeLong and Anthony DeLong of St. Louis, four grandsons, Shea Mankin, Aaron Mankin, Ryan Mankin, and Jace Mankin, and one sister, Dorothy Kaufmann. He is also survived by two stepdaughters of wife of 22 years, Marilyn DeLong, who preceded him in death in 1998: Beth Webster of Russellville and Janet Farris of Fulton and his grandchildren, Zachary, Dylan, and Jamie Webster and Kyra Farris. He is further survived by dear friend and fiance, Mary Stixrud. He was also preceded in death by his parents; one sister; and five brothers. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2008, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with the Rev. Benjamin Nwosu, officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A wake will be held 2 p.m. Friday March 28, 2008, at Paddy Malones Pub, 700 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be donated to Helias Foundation, P.O. Box 694, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0694; or to the Missouri University of Science and Technology Foundation (UMR), 400 West 10th Street, 107 Castleman Hall, Rolla, MO 65409. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.