Jim's Lasting Impact On The German-American Society

Many years ago, Jim married a German girl named Hannah. Their marriage also marked the start of a long and happy relationship with Tulsa's German-American community. Jim was a tireless promoter of

Thursday, December 21st 2006, 10:09 pm

By: News On 6

Many years ago, Jim married a German girl named Hannah. Their marriage also marked the start of a long and happy relationship with Tulsa's German-American community. Jim was a tireless promoter of Tulsa's German-American Society. And anyone who's ever done the "chicken dance" knows that Jim was almost synonymous with Oktoberfest. News on 6 reporter Steve Berg talked with some of Jim's friends behind the scenes.

Oktoberfest promotions director Michael Sanders says one of his earliest memories of Jim is of him wearing an apron, cooking up brats on the grill.

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "Y'know here's this kind of TV and wow, big TV star, and he wouldn't have any of that. He's one of these guys y'know that I just happen to work in TV just like you happen to be a CPA so he was just one of the gang, one of the guys."

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "He made you feel like YOU were the celebrity."

In spite of Jim's humble personality, there's little doubt his celebrity status and TV appearances helped elevate his beloved Oktoberfest from a modest little festival with a few tents, to the rollicking extravaganza that it is today.

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "Now we're getting international exposure. Jim Giles was responsible for raising that level and that awareness, so he had a real big hand in that."

Sanders says Jim guided him through his first live interview with the same calm presence he used during storm coverage.

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "Jim was a coach and he would just say don't worry about it, you'll do fine. And of course I'm as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

It went fine. Sanders remembers the signal Jim would use when they were out of time.

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "He would take his microphone, and he would switch hands. It was very clever and something I would watch for."

Charles Tegeler, German American Society of Tulsa: "He's just such a great guy. Easy to talk to."

Charles Tegeler at the German-American society says Jim was a big help promoting their group and was at nearly every Saturday get-together... including the Christmas Party just a copule of weeks ago.

Charles Tegeler, German American Society of Tulsa: "The whole family was here, the kids, grandkids, and they seemed to have a good time."

Oktoberfest was always a good time with Jim and Hannah whirling across the dance floor. Sanders talked to them at the Light On ceremony at Rhema Bible College.

Michael Sanders, Oktoberfest Promotions Director: "And I had a chance to see both of them and gave them both a big hug and didn't realize at that time that would be the last chance I would have to see Jim."

A public memorial service will be held at the German American Society Hall on 15th Street.. next Tuesday.. December 26th at two in the afternoon.