Page 27 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2024 - Online Magazine

2023-24 LOCAL LEGENDS LOCAL LEGENDS

CITY

PLANNING

and So Much

MORE!

2 YEARS IN A ROW
Jim Bertram

by Barbara Jensen

im Bertram is difficult to write After graduation, Jim became an a reality; meanwhile, he was directing
about in a short article because Assistant Planner for Lubbock and, issues with zoning, urban renewal,
Jhe's so interesting! He grew up in within two years, was the head of the the civic center project, traffic, and
Beeville, Texas and loved landscaping Planning Department for the City. overhauling zoning ordinances and
as a youngster. He and his brother Here he completed a feasibility study landscaping standards.
regularly designed and improved their for the reclamation of the Yellow
yard and the family house. He also House Canyon as a greenbelt, reusing Jim has a tremendous faith in God,
loved drawing and, even now, draws reclaimed water for recreation. It and he prayed for wisdom to handle
and paints watercolors. He has always became The Canyon Lakes Project. the job. He was thrown into a very
liked sailboats and, over the years, has complex situation where he knew he
owned seven of them. The first was one In 1968, he moved to Wichita Falls had to learn fast and knew he needed
he converted from a motorboat and where he was City Planner and then help. He feels it was the most exciting
sailed at Buffalo Lake. Oh, and he's a Director of Planning for another ten-year period of his life, creating and
poet as well. two years. They had one of the first planning the renewal, redevelopment,
computerized land use systems in the and redesign of the city. Also, during
At Texas Tech, Jim majored in Civil state. this time, his second child, a son, and
Engineering and was able to work third child, also a son, were born, the
with the Corpus Christi City Planner. In May of 1970, a devastating tornado last with Down Syndrome. That created
Jim became fascinated with city tore up much of the downtown area some new challenges but was also one
planning. He changed his major to of Lubbock. The Director of Planning of the greatest blessings for his family.
Parks Administration. Elo Urbanovsky, resigned, and the city wanted Jim back; That child died at age 33. His other son
a renowned professor at Tech, tailor- so he said that, if the bond issue passed, now works for a company which cleans
made a curriculum for him on city and the monies for Canyon Lakes were up oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, and
planning for his last two years at approved, he'd return. It passed and, his daughter works for an organization
Tech, and he received a B.S. in Parks in September that year, he returned to for people with intellectual issues.
Carillon achieved U.S. News & World Report’s Administration. During that time, Lubbock where he made tremendous Jim and his wife, Glenda, moved to
strides in the development of the city.
he also worked as a Planning Aide
highest rating in three categories! for the City of Lubbock, served as a He was only 29 at the time and says he Ransom Canyon in 2002, and she died
student teacher in labs for landscape just didn't know what he couldn't do, there after almost 51 years of marriage.
architecture, got married, and had his so he started the planning and figuring Jim had decided he would not remarry;
first child, a daughter. how to make the Canyon Lakes project but at church, he met Charlotte, whose
1717 Norfolk Avenue
Lubbock, Texas 79416
806-705-5433
CarillonLubbock.com A#137654 B#135846 Lubbock Senior Link 27