Modesto Radio Museum board member and first vice president Jim West died March 13, 2016 in Modesto at the age of 81. West was the grandson and namesake of James Stewart West, who founded the J.S. West & Company initially supplying grain and coal and later evolved into today’s egg, feed and propane operations. West concentrated on the eggs, helping make J.S. West one of the state’s top producers from large-scale farms in Stanislaus and Merced counties.
West was a member of several industry related organizations and chairman of the American Egg Board, based in Park Ridge, Ill. He also led the boards of the Memorial Hospital Foundation, Delta Blood Bank, Modesto Junior College Foundation, Modesto Rotary Club, Modesto Radio Museum and was involved with several other industry and civic groups.
West did a weekly farm news report on radio station KTRB in the 1960s and 1970s and his company sponsored a birthday program each weekday morning at 7:45 AM which was hosted by lifelong friend and fellow board member Cal Purviance .
West was born in Modesto on Jan. 22, 1935, to Donald and Ruby West. He attended Modesto High School and Menlo Junior College before earning a degree in feed technology at Kansas State University.
West’s survivors also include his wife, Jessie West; two sons, Jason West of St. Louis and Bill Pereira of Sun Valley, Idaho; three daughters, Janet Griskonis of Ashburn, Va., Linda Pereira of Escalon and Nancy Porteous-Thomas of Carmel; sister, Victoria Erickson of Aptos; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial was held March 16, 2016 Del Rio Country Club.
