Jimmie Cates, a True Public Servant

American Fork lost a friend and community stalwart to cancer last Friday in American Fork City Councilman Jimmie Cates. Jimmie was like that old E. F. Hutton commercial; when Jimmie talked, we (the council) listened. His kind and wise comments and advice usually took the form of restraint but not at the expense of delay. In fact, it was Jimmie along with others who "pushed" us to resolution on secondary irrigation. It was this writer, who in 2003, won a place on the council at Jimmie's expense who was an appointed council member then. That victory was bittersweet. To help ensure his winning a seat, I enjoyed campaigning with Jimmy and attending cottage meetings with him in the 2005 municipal campaign. It was in these settings and going door to door that I became a Jimmy Cates fan. In all the years I have known Jimmy, I have never heard a bad word, a hint of gossip or an untruth uttered from his mouth about another person. I will relate one such experience I recall vividly which is suggestive of his character, integrity and service orientation. Mountain Meadows subdivision in south American Fork was experiencing drainage problems with flooded homes and yards. Jimmie and I visited the neighbors. He assured the residents that the problem would be looked into and resolved and it was. Jimmie never assigned blame to anyone, he just wanted to get the problem taken care of. Jimmie played a major role in youth baseball, having served as its president for many years. Click here, here and here  for news articles regarding Jimmie's passing. He was a good and honorable husband, father, friend and colleague.

Jimmie Cates will be missed.