Everyone at KIMN was a family and Jim found out how close that family really was. In 1982, Jim's wife, Karen, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. Jim and Karen were out riding their motorcycles on I-25. Jim had looked back and Karen gave him a big smile and a thumbs up. When he looked back again, she was not there. Karen had hit a lamp post at I-25 and Santa Fe. Jim's whole life changed in one instant. At this most difficult time in his life, the KIMN family was there for Jim to help him.

The 2nd gig after Karen's death, Jim was requested to visit a young little girl whose dying wish was to see the KIMN Chicken again. Jim had visited little Jennifer at Children's Hospital. Jennifer was suffering from liver failure. She was very jaundice and had stomach distention. And the little girl was not really into his visit because she was so ill. When the end was near, her mother had asked if there was anything she wanted and her wish was to see Mr. Chicken again. Jim came to visit the little girl. Jennifer's mom suggested they walk down to a nearby park. Jim held Jennifer's hand on the walk to the park, pushed her on the swing, and then it came time to head home. Jennifer's dad asked is she wanted him to carry her home and she said no. Jim asked her if she wanted him to give her a ride home and Jennifer said, "I sure would Mr. Chicken, my legs really hurt." Jim gave her a ride on his tail feathers home.

Back at home, the little girl said, "I am never going to see you again, Mr. Chicken, am I?" And Jim said, "Nope." Jennifer said, "I love you, Mr. Chicken." It was only a few days and little Jennifer died. To this day, Jim is overwhelmed with tears in his eyes when he recalls his day with Jennifer.

With the loss of Karen and the overwhelming experience with little Jennifer, Jim struggled for many months to get back into wanting to entertain. It took some counseling and the help of everyone at the station, but Jim made it back.

No one has a total count of the number of appearances Jim did as the KIMN Chicken over the decade of service, but if one had to estimate it would be well into the tens of thousands. And no one outside the station circle ever saw his true identity. Care was always taken to insure no one from the public would see Jim with the Chicken head off.