Hulett’s continued ties to the timber and lumber industry traces much of its longevity to a man who kept his vision for the future despite the loss of a sawmill to fire and a federal edict about an owl.
James S. “Jim Sr.” Neiman died Saturday after battling a series of health conditions. He was 96.
His son, Jim D. Neiman, who leads the family-owned company in Hulett that produces lumber products such as pine boards, paneling, studs, and heating pellets, characterized his dad as a “very hard-working, energetic, and humorous individual.”
“He was always very visionary, trying to figure out how to improve things,” Jim Neiman said.
In August 1971, young Jim called the family as a fire was consuming their sawmill. Jim Sr. was “flat broke,” his son said.
“He says, ‘You guys put the fire out. I’m on my way to Montana to a sawmill,’” Jim recalled. “‘I’ve got to start rebuilding this tomorrow.’ And the banker gave him a very limited line of money, and he went right past that real quick at the auction. So, it was interesting to see how he survived.”
But he not only survived, he thrived. Jim Sr. not only rebuilt the sawmill but also purchased the family ranch from his brother. He went on to work in the timber and forest-products businesses that with the leadership of the third generation has forest products operations in Hulett, Spearfish, South Dakota, and Gilchrist, Oregon.
Jim Neiman said his dad stepped away from day-to-day leadership of the businesses in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
James S. Neiman was born Feb. 6, 1930, in Gordon, Nebraska to Albert Carmel (A.C.) Neiman and Annie Mabel Gerber. He was the youngest of eight children.
Albert Neiman started a sawmill in Upton and moved it to Hulett. Jim said his grandfather had his dad skip every third day of school because he didn’t have enough help at the sawmill. He learned how to skid logs with horses, run equipment, and solve problems.
Married In 1952
Jim Sr. married Sally Ann Bush in 1952 and the couple went on to raise three boys and two girls. In addition to the sawmill business they also had work at the ranch.
His work ethic was passed on his children.
“He’d make me work after football practice,” Jim said.
He recalls his dad continually adjusting to challenges. When they lost a contract for cutting mine timbers in the 1970s, he adjusted by purchasing equipment to produce wood products.
When the spotted owl controversy hit the timber industry in the 1990s, Jim Sr. along with his son did research on how to help protect their community. They learned that towns that had golf courses and airports seemed to be faring better.
“Dad told me, ‘Son, I don’t know how you are going to do it, but you need to figure out how to build a golf course and an airport,’” Jim said. “I said, ‘Dad, you know what you are really asking me?’”
But the family developed The Golf Club at Devil’s Tower, which not only includes a private golf club but also offers an event venue for executive retreats and more. The course is built on land his mother’s family homesteaded, Jim said.
He said the course has helped diversify the local economy.
“Neither one of us were golfers,” Jim said.
But one thing his dad made sure of was that the pond at the course was stocked with fish for the area’s youngsters.
State Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, called James S. Neiman a good friend, philanthropist and “bigger-than-life” guy.
“Jim was a guy who grew up from nothing and they ended up owning his major competition,” Driskill said. “He was an incredible personality. He always had a grin on his face and he was a jokester.”
Pet ‘Mongoose’
In his younger years, Jim Sr. carried a “pet mongoose” around in a box, with a raccoon tail sticking out of a hole..
Driskill said he would tell people he was going to open the box and show off the mongoose. He would then pull a trigger as the person bent down and the tail would swat them in the face.
While in his 80s, the senior Neiman was employing young men on his ranch. Driskill said a friend of his son's who is now a successful Angus breeder went to work with Jim Sr. one day. The young man was picked up before daylight, taken to the ranch and put to work rolling wire until noon.
The younger man asked Jim Sr. about lunch and Jim Sr. asked him if he had brought one. The young man had not. Driskill said Jim Sr. shared his and they worked until sundown.
“He got a full day out of everybody and probably did it with a grin on his face,” he said. “He probably told a joke or two.”
Hulett Mayor Brian Kennah said Jim Sr. was someone who supported everybody, “had a weak spot” for helping the youth, and “he made sure that people were taken care of in our town.”
“He’s grown the town, he’s a very realistic business man,” he said. “It’s hard to say enough about James S. Neiman. The best way to get James to do something was to bet him that he couldn’t.”
Jim Neiman said his dad and the family have been focused through the years supplying the community's needs, such as ensuring good roads and housing for their workers.
Driskill pointed out that the flower boxes in town and their upkeep also can be traced back to the family as well.
Driskill and Jim both shared a favorite story about the elder Neiman’s love for the youth and for figuring out problems.
Prized Gifts
Jim Sr. enjoyed going to Walmart or other stores that have crane machines offering stuffed animals and other toy prizes for a quarter. He became an expert at manipulating the crane device to improve his chances of winning.
The prizes would be handed out to kids in the community.
“He would get big black bags full of those and fill the whole back of his vehicle, passing them out to kids,” Jim said.
Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Friday at the Hulett School gymnasium.
In addition to his wife, Sally, survivors include their five children, Jim (Christy) Neiman, Connie (Tom) Lindmier, Kent (Criss) Neiman, Sheri (Russell) Stinson, and Rick (Marlene) Neiman; 14 surviving grandchildren, Marcus (Martina) Neiman, Sonja Neiman, Stephanie (Brad) Wallendorf, Michelle (Matt) Cloninger, Monte (Desiree) Lindmier, Sonnie Neiman, Stephanie (Cory) Gilbert, Michelle (Nate) Wilson, Micki (Mark) Lyons, Jerod Stinson, Shelly (Dan) Olson, Brandie (Rollis) Buer, Mary Neiman, and Gracie Neiman; and 31 great-grandchildren.
Neiman was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Carmel (A.C.) Neiman and Annie Mabel Gerber; his grandsons, Ryan and Kasey Neiman; his sisters, Carrie, Ruth, and Mary; and his brothers, Albert, Hank, Ray, and Bill.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
