Jimbo was a very influential person on my young life. I haven't seen him in over 35 years, but on my first day of McCallie in 1971, at age 11, Jimbo initially reacted to my appearance in chapel with an expletive filled comment on my obesity, closing his comments by saying that I "looked like a ..bleep.. tumbleweed", because I was fat and blond headed... Fortunately, I was used to being mistreated, took it in stride and went on to be friends with him, the older student. In the days, weeks, months and years following that day I became widely known as "Tumbleweed", and I am still known that way by a number of people to this day. I saw him several times in Knoxville in the early 80's when he was managing a bar - we hung out a bit, and affirmed our friendship. I haven't seen him since, and I am sorry that I am only now learning of his passing. Please accept my condolences. I will never forget Jimbo Lail and his contribution to my pretty cool nickname - something not everybody gets to have...