With him are the Taylors, his first customers.

Dante once wrote, "Think back often, a retrospect delights the mind." This happened to my husband and I when we recently passed the house we purchased in 1958 from the ERSFELDS. James Hermes, a young man whose father was wise enough to allow him to handle the sale of the house, his first sale after becoming a Realtor, never forgot that first, most important sale. We never forgot the honest zeal with which he pointed out all the good things about the home. Jim truly was an exceptional young man who has grown over the years to become an even more exceptional mature man. It is said that coming events cast their shadow before, and it truly happened with us when we let Jim conclude the sale of his first house.

The character which was a part of Jim's makeup developed as he matured. We became as proud of him as if he belonged to us. He didn't just sell houses, he sold homes.

Knowing our love of books, Jim sought a house that would have bookshelves, and the house he showed us had bookshelves in the den. We carpeted the house, remodeled the kitchen completely, putting in cupboards, an electric stove, a refrigerator and added a laundry room behind louvered doors. We finished it with the best kitchen carpeting. While we were working on all of this we needed a temporary place from June to September. The Ersfelds were having a home built and it was not finished. Jim and his father worked hard to find us an interim place to live. We developed a good friendship with the Hermes' during those days. Jim's mother and father bowled in our league. After his father's death, Jim took over. He married a wonderful girl and both Nancy and Jim were kind to us. We never forgot all their care because they tempered everything they did with love. Shortly before their first child was born they had us over for dinner. None of us were very affluent, but they served us lobster. It was a real sacrifice and sign of caring.

Since I was a legal secretary, I came in contact with Jim very often in business. Although they did not know our only child, who was dying of cancer in Green Bay, Jim stopped frequently to let us know of his concern. Both Jim and Nancy had the marvelous ability to make us feel like contemporaries and it was a joy to see their children grow. When we retired, Jim handled the sale of our home, and we moved to Florida. The Hermes' kept in touch and visited when in Florida at a convention. After nine years, we decided to return to Forest Lake. We called Jim and had him check on renting an apartment. So, on a stormy Minnesota day, Jim made an inspection of the apartment. He phoned us immediately with the message, "This is the day which the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it," and arrangements were made for us to rent the apartment. We still live in that place.

Jim brings to the marketplace those fine qualities which we admire in him as a friend. Honesty, integrity, unselfishness and caring, along with strong Christian beliefs.

Note: Since the time Mrs. Taylor prepared this article, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have passed away.