I sent this message to Jim in April 2016 so you can see what I thought of him; I was doing a search on the OPM website which is beside the point as while I was there I remembered you. I was thinking how great it was that a RHS grad had achieved so much. You were a few years ahead of me but I recall when you came into Floyd Millsaps’ science class and told us about Berea College. I considered Berea but after a stint in the Army went to Western Carolina and then on to UT for a BSEE. I had the smarts but was too much of a procrastinator for a management/leadership career. I just wanted to congratulate you on your career of note and thank you for your decades of service to our country.

To Jim’s Family, My deepest condolences on Jim’s passing. I read a few of the other condolence messages, and hope his family knows how much he influenced many of us to strive to be the best we could be, at whatever we were doing. I was privileged to write a book with Jim, and conduct a number of interviews of him. What came across in those activities is what a true national treasure Jim was to our country. His legacy will live on in the many people like me that he touched so deeply. Sincerely, Bob Kavetsky

Dear Family, You have my sincere and heartfelt condolences and sympathy for your loss of Jim. Although I didn’t know him well personally, I had the honor of serving under him when he was Technical Director of the Dahlgren Naval Base. He was a strong and compassionate leader. I was (and still am) deeply touched by your outreach to your readership urging us to seek help if we’re feeling depressed. I never saw such a loving and compassionate appeal in an obituary before. It means a lot to me. Thank you so much for that. God bless you all. Sincerely and with love, Bruce Z. Hollmann

Sincere condolences to Joy and family on the loss of this great American hero who spent a lifetime supporting his country. I came to value the chances I had to have lunch occasionally and listen to his stories on how he helped overcome difficulties in the complex organizations he led. But those discussions never started before he captured my attention with another great country joke. His friendship and mentoring was a thrill to me. God Bless Dr. Colvard.

We were so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. Please accept our sincere condolences and wishes for peace and strength in your difficult transition. Jim, to us, has always been an icon of facing issues, inspiring those around him, and using ‘the country boy’ approach in dealing with people and programmatic challenges. He will be missed as a leader and a friend.

Joy and family. It was with great sadness that we learnt of Jim’s passing. I met Jim in 1975 and spent many happy hours playing golf with him (even if he did win most of the time). Annette met Jim in the late nineties and has fond memories of him. Jim was a wonderful person and I am so fortunate to have been his friend. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Graham and Annette

Like many others, Dr. Colvard had a huge impact on me and my career. Together with CAPT Paul Anderson, Dr. Colvard selected me to PCS to Wallops Island, VA to establish a detachment there. I couldn\’t have foreseen how that plan would play out but Dr. Colvard and CAPT Anderson told me of their vision and, to a remarkable degree, is has been realized. Although the command as Wallop Ialsnd reports to NAVSEA, the missions and value are much as those gents had sketched out in 1980. Despite his high rank, Jim Colvard remained a personable and accessible person. I turned to him for guidance even when I no longer worked for him.Via con Dios, Jim.

I am so sad to hear of such a major loss not only to his family but to all of us. Jim was inspirational to me and so many other people, as shown by the comments cited here. He was the best leader we ever had at Dahlgren and an absolute genius. My favorite memories, however, are the many group trips we took with him and Joy on our travels with Bud and Sally of King George Travel. He was a class act. May he rest in eternal peace and his family find comfort. Cindy and Luke

My deepest condolences to Joy and her family. Jim was an outstanding leader at NSWC and beyond. He was a super great boss, friend, golfing buddy and mentor to me throughout my entire career. I will never forget the love, compassion and sympathy he showed me when my wife Carol Ann passed away. I will miss him as I am sure you will too.

We extend our deepest condolences to Joy and her family on the loss of Jim. He was always an exceptional leader at NSWC Dahlgren and an important mentor for me and many others. He knew instinctively that the success of the organization depended on the capability and inspiration of the people who worked there and he was a master at inspiring people to be their best. Sherry and I have been fortunate to count Jim and Joy among our enduring friends and always enjoyed our dinners together, the wonderful stories, the insightful discussion of news events, and Jim’s endless capacity for sharing jokes. The family is in our thoughts and prayers. Joe & Sherry

So many good memories of our time together at OPM. Jim was a great friend, boss and colleague. Blessings to Joy and the family.

Joy and family: Diane’s and my heart go out to you at this stressing time in your lives. The news of Jim’s death filled both of us with shock and sorrow. Not only was Jim a mentor, friend and boss, but he was also a powerful influence on my career. For all these things, I will always hold him with esteem and warmth in my heart. After careers had ended, we continued to have basketball and football to discuss by email and celebrate victories and commiserate over losses. His passing is a profound loss to us, as I am sure it is with you. Diane and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to you in this hour of loss and the best to you as life continues. Dan and Diane Shields

Joy and Belinda, I am deeply sorry to hear the sad news of Jim’s passing, my deepest Sympathy to you and your family. Jim was a wonderful person and I was blessed to have had the opportunity of spending an incredible amount of time playing golf with Jim while stationed at Dahlgren in the late 1970’s. Played every Sat and Sun morning throughout the years during which time we became very close friends. Jim will be sadly missed by all who knew him and I feel proud and privileged to have been his friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Joy and Belinda, I was saddened to hear of your loss. It is quite a shock. He was quite an outstanding human being. I pray for your comfort and peace at this most difficult time. Allen

Dr. Colvard worked with my Dad at Dahlgren. He was a wonderful man who always took the time to speak to everyone, including employee’s children. I always enjoyed talking with him, I still remember how well respected he was, and my father spoke often of his admiration for Dr. Colvard. The family will be in my prayers.

Everyone dies sooner or later. Very few leave a mark as much as Jim has. One of the true great ones who knew how to run the base, extremely intelligent and great management skills. None of the latest TDs can hold s candle to Jim. People know me as bring very frugal with my respect for people. That being said, I have the absolute utmost respect for Mr. Colvard. My condolences to all of his family. He will be missed. And he will be greatly remembered, that is his immortality, remembrances.

As a very junior employee of the Naval Weapons Laboratory, on two or three occasions, Jim Colvard came into my office or work area and started a conversation. He would ask about what I was working on, or how things were going, or what the problems were, or something similar. Needless to say, I was astounded that the Department Head or Technical Director was strolling around alone, talking to the lower level workers and not the branch or division heads. Years later he would tell me that this was one way he knew what was actually going on in the organization. Jim was equally comfortable with four star admirals and brand new employees fresh out of school- and they felt comfortable with him. A coworker of mine, who worked with Jim far more closely than I did observed that Jim had a unique ability to develop solutions to issues and problems that benefited both sides. His role in the success of Dahlgren during some very critical years cannot be overstated. Leaders like Jim are extremely rare, and he will be profoundly missed. I feel very fortunate to have known him.

I am deeply sadden by this news. Jim was an inspiration to me and many many others at Dahlgren He was a great storyteller and could keep an audience engaged for hours. As TD he would meet the New Employees. He was there on my first day at Dahlgren. He asked the incoming group I was in what we aspired to do at Dahlgren so not knowing what a TD did I asked him what he did … he laughed and proceeded to tell me “not much”. His respect for the workforce and its development was something that I carried forward in my 42 year career. He was a true man of the people. He will be remembered by many and his stories will be shared keeping his memory and impacts alive for many years to come. Prayers for you Joy and the family

I am so deeply sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. I hope that, as you mourn his loss, you also will be able to celebrate his life among us. An iconic and creative leader at Dahlgren and beyond; a mentor and teacher to so many; a husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, Jim has been an inspiring presence in so many lives. No one has been more generously supportive of the efforts of the Dahlgren Heritage Museum to tell “the Dahlgren story”– not just with dollars, but with his presence and his encouragement. I wrote him recently to urge him to continue coming to our board meetings, though he was no longer technically on the board. I noted that “your presence at our meetings has always given me comfort and confidence … having someone who has accomplished what you have at Dahlgren and beyond and to the Navy generally, and who had such close ties to my dad, means a lot” — not to mention your jokes for every occasion and the donuts you dutifully bring to our meetings. He wrote back, “I will try to be there. Your dad and I shared a lot of jokes.” Please know that Jim’s friends at the Dahlgren Heritage Museum will keep all of you in our prayers as we together deal with this heartbreaking loss.

Belinda, I am so sorry to hear the news. I was always very fond of Mr Colvard, he had a quiet and brilliant humour about him and a knack for adding a well placed line. I remember your family as such kind and generous people. My thoughts are with you all. With love, Lisa