In honor of Sesquicentennial Plus One, I’m devoting the Speaking of Idaho blog to my family’s history during August.
Nels’ eldest son, James Just, was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1934, serving through 1938. John Corlett, who wrote about politics for the Idaho Statesman for decades once told me that my grandfather, James Just, had a habit of putting his thumbs through his suspenders while speaking from the podium, and rocking back and forth on his feet. For this habit he was dubbed “Jumpin’ Jimmy Just” by reporters.
Both Nels and James Just were friends with Fred T. Dubois, who was a U.S. Senator from Idaho for many years. James also palled around a bit with Glenn Taylor, who served one term in the Senate from Idaho.
Rinda Just, my spouse served as a Boise city planning and zoning commissioner for ten years. I served for a time on that commission as well, and I’m currently running for the District 15 state senate seat. If elected I vow not to acquire a nickname for my antics on the floor of the senate. One Jumpin’ Jimmy is enough, though my first name is James. I go by my middle name.