Comments on: Jim “Shoota” Magruder

By: Matt Chaprales

Matt Chaprales — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:27:19 +0000

I woke up with chills this morning, which of course made me think of you. Whenever that happens I start doing math. Months, days, hours. Today I didn’t need to do much math. I looked at the date and saw a 21. 21s, Saturdays, Octobers; all never going to change back to what they were.

On a positive note those moments help me think and remember with a clarity that I’ve come to cherish, so I’ll take the chills.

It’s been four months, Shoota. And five 21s too many.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:53:55 +0000

LBJ, was a pretty corny nickname, thank goodness you meet us fools shoota.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:54:25 +0000

I never really dreamed of heaven much
Until we put him in the ground

By: Matt Chaprales

Matt Chaprales — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 09:36:13 +0000

Each Saturday when I wake
that one call from Cotter doesn't come.

I don't write that email to work
informing them I must leave the state.

I don't start booking plane tickets
of which price could never equal sum.

Yet Saturdays when I sleep
10/21s cease to dissipate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 05:08:00 +0000

Well he stormed with his feet
And he clapped with his hands
He summoned all of his joy when he laughed
It suffered all of his joy when he cried

And sometimes when he got into talking
Man he could rattle all day long
He was a good man and now he's gone

Well in war he was a tiger
When it was over like a dove
He summoned all of his strength in the climb
It suffered all of his strength in the fall

And sometimes when he got into fighting
Man he could fight with you all day long
He was a good man and now he's gone

He put his trust in a higher power
He held his power like a holy grail
He summoned all of his faith in the lifting
It suffered all of his faith in the fall

His heart was stronger than a heavy metal bullet
And that's why I dedicate this song
He was a good man and now he's gone

By: Cotter

Cotter — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:29:18 +0000

What’s up Jim. The belly’s not going anywhere bro!!!!!! It just keeps getting bigger bro!!!!!!!!!…..ha. I’ve been trying to think of what to write you for a while, I guess trying to think of something really profound to say. And as usual I have nothing. You are my friend, not just any friend, one of my best friends. The time we all spent together at school fostered a unique friendship. It’s rare to find a group of friends that spend more time with one another than alone. I was thinking about friends and what that means and once again I don’t really know how to say exactly what I’m feeling and thinking. All I know is that a friend is someone you pass the time with because when you’re just hanging out with that person you’re having a good time no matter what you’re doing. Over the course of that time each person begins to rub off on the other and eventually your personalities become a mix of those of your friends. I mean I barely speak English half the time now from hanging out with Ballgame because I obviously rep his made-up language steez far too often to people who don’t understand. But I like it that way. I guess all I’m trying to say is that I’m a different person because of you, and the time we spent together chilling out plays a huge part in shaping the person that I am today. You will always be a part of the person that I am. Visiting your home meant a lot to me. It really showed me a great guy you really are. You lived so much in so little and left such a beautiful little girl. Even in your passing you’ve changed my outlook on so many things. It’s sad that it took a tragedy to put our friendship in perspective for me, it was something I took for granted. I can’t express in words how greatful I am that you came to NY to see us [and spent 500 dollars and 1 whole day getting a car just to ride King da ka…]. We meet so many people in life but so few become genuine friends. I guess, man, all I’m really trying to say is thanks for being my friend, and such a good one. I just want to tell you one time straight up: you will loved, missed, and remembered forever by me and the rest of the NY guys.

Cotter

By: Cotter

Cotter — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:27:30 +0000

Cotter

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:52:03 +0000

This is so great what you guys are doing. I cannot express with words how much this means to us. Although Jim had led such seperate lives between Louisiana and New York City, He found a way to bring everyone together. You are great friends, and Jim loves every single one of you very dearly. He might have had a different way of telling each and everybody that he loved us; maybe it was making fun of us or just wanting to make us laugh. But sometimes he just came out and said it. He had told me that. That he loves you guys and that he doesn’t know if he could have made it in the big city without you all. So thank you for making such an impact on Jim’s life. Ya know, one day Jim came to visit me and Abbey and he was telling me what a hard time he was having with the issue that our lives weren’t the same and that we didn’t have the same “freedoms” that our friends had anymore. We couldn’t “go out” as much and hang out with friends. He said he envied those people that could live a carefree life. But later he wrote a letter to me and it stated. “Although once we envied people with freedoms and those who didn’t have many responsibilities, our lives have been blessed. We have something that people wish their whole lives to have. We have that family structure and stability. We should be envied. Not us envying others. What the hell were we thinking!” That just helps me to know that he was content with his life. He had lived in every way possible. He got to have his carefree days. He also had his family days. He wouldn’t have found that contentment without you guys. You being so great about the whole marriage deal and that he was going to be a daddy helped him become okay with the fact that his life was going to be soo different after he got off that plane in New Orleans from New York the last time. So I just want to extend my thanks to everyone who had a part in that.

By: eddyt

eddyt — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 05:03:11 +0000

To Jim,

We only met a handful of times, and it was never for as long as I would have liked– an afternoon or late night stolen during one of my whirlwind tours of McMahon Hall. And yet your good nature always loomed large. One of the first things I learned about you was that you had a hell of an arm. Another notorious night I roared with laughter as we talked Shaquille O’Neal’s contributions to Tigers football. Then one day I was visiting while you were out of town and Matt and I watched a movie in your room—The Bourne Supremacy, it was my first time— and I saw a picture of your beautiful family and I admired you.
Reading what your friends have written to you I am reminded that my admiration stemmed from the loves I always knew we had in common—games, music, friendships. I am reminded to cherish every day and its characters, because our grip on this life is so unfairly tenuous. And I am reminded that I am blessed to have known a man of such integrity. For all these things I’m grateful to you, who I only met a handful of times. Rest in peace; you will not be forgotten.

By: Pinke

Pinke — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:49:03 +0000

Hey Jim, I wrote a poem, and theres more I need to say but I don't know how yet. Stay tuned.

JIM VILLANELLE

The crash in the night is wild
Near bayous hungover and still,
Again there is mother and child.

An engine roars on like a fire
As damp southern air breaks a chill
The crash in the night is wild.

With a grin on his face like a liar
Holding sonogram pictures that thrill—
Again there is mother and child.

He finds cold in his hands, though its mild
For her eyes tears are starting to fill,
The crash in the night is wild.

Scenic birth, he would say, he would smile
For his eyes tears are starting to fill,
Again there is mother and child.

His warm southern heart I’ll admire
As silence falls calloused and shrill,
The crash in the night is wild
Again there is mother and child.