James F. LaBounty

LaBounty, James F. (Jim) December 14, 1942-December 18, 2008, 66, of Castle Rock, Colorado. James F. LaBounty was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Francis W. LaBounty and Audrey R. LaBounty and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958. He graduated from Rancho High School in 1960. He earned his B.Sc. (1967) and his M.Sc. (1968) degrees at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a Ph.D. in ichthyology from Arizona State University in 1974. He began his professional career in 1969 as an Environmental Specialist with the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Regional Office in Boulder City, Nevada where he was one of the first biologists ever to be hired by the agency. In 1974 he transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation's Engineering and Research Center in Denver as a Research Biologist. Through his research he became regarded as a National and International expert on the impacts of water resource projects on lakes, reservoirs and streams. In 1982, Jim became the Manager of the Ecological Research and Investigations Group along with working as a researcher and technical specialist until his retirement in 2000. Since 2000, he has been on contract as an Aquatic Specialist with the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas and has been instrumental in several environmental and water quality studies on Lake Mead designed to protect and improve water quality. Throughout the years Jim has published extensively, been a member of numerous environmental and fisheries organizations, served as Editor of the International Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management published by the North American Lake Management Society and served in various capacities for Toastmasters International. Jim passed away in Miami, Florida after contracting pneumonia while on a transatlantic cruise. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Carole; children Jennifer M. LaBounty (Ben Krieger) and James F. LaBounty, Jr.; grandchildren Zane F. Claypool and Shaelyn M. Claypool; sister-in-law Marcela LaBounty, niece Daniela LaBounty and Nephew Julian LaBounty, sister-in-laws Rosemary Giampapa (Jim Stegeman), Roberta Smith (Bruce Childress) and Robin O'Rourke (Mark O'Rourke); in-laws Robert and Rosemary Smith; Aunt Bernice Anderson and Uncle William LaBounty and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him. His interests included gardening, stamp collecting, exercising, publishing and travelling. He was passionate about his family, his work and lived every day to the fullest. A celebration of his life will be Sunday December 28, 2008, at 1:00 pm at Horan & McConaty in Lakewood, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. In lieu of Flowers the family requests donations be made in his name to The Children's Hospital Foundation 13123 E. 16th Ave. Box 045 Aurora, CO. or online at http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/give/index.aspx, or the NALMS scholarship fund P.O. Box 5443 Madison, WI 53705-0443.