Alumni Spotlight: James “Jim” A. Bishop Mu 1239

Why did you join Sigma Nu?

During rush I had the SAEs rushing me while the KAs were rushing my twin brother Henry. Both of us were being rushed by Sigma Nu and we decided that the brothers at Sigma Nu shared the same values as us so that’s where we ended up. I am very happy that I joined Sigma Nu, for it gave me opportunities and experiences I would have never had the chance to experience. There’s nothing quite like having your boots on the floor of the Sigma Nu house. 

What was your favorite memory while you were in college?

One of my favorite memories was while I was IFC president we would host forums with guest speakers. I got to meet Ted Kennedy in Atlanta and fly back to Athens with him on a private airplane. Another one of my favorite forums we hosted was an impressive academic debate between my good friend Dean Tate and Noah Langdale who was President of Georgia State at the time. They debated many different topics and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the  two giant educators flashing their knowledge while debating various topics of academia. I also have fond memories of the many musical events held on the lawn of the old chateau. Some of my favorites include bands like The Midnighters, The Drifters, and Ike & Tina Turner.

What were you involved in as a student?

As a student I was elected to be IFC president the same year that my brother was Commander of Sigma Nu. IFC was appealing to me because I had always been a leader, in high school I was President of my class from Freshman to Junior year and was the President of Student Council my Senior year. I enjoyed working on IFC while Henry was Commander. I later became president of the South Eastern Fraternity Conference, enjoying trips to LSU and Tennessee. 

Tell us about your family.

My wife, Mary Raulerson Bishop, and I got married on August 14th, 1964. We had a son, James A. Bishop Jr. who works at my law firm with me, and a daughter Mary Elizabeth Bishop Easterlin. I also have four amazing grandchildren

Tell us about your career since you’ve graduated.

After completing educational requirements at the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University in 1967, I moved to Brunswick to join Anthony A. Alaimo in the practice of law. When Judge Alaimo took the bench as Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in 1971, I continued his law practice with A. Blenn Taylor, Jr. until June 1980 when Blenn Taylor was appointed to the Superior Court bench for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit. I have continuously maintained a general practice of law in Brunswick and throughout Southeast Georgia since beginning my practice in 1967, and I hold the highest rating in the Martindale Hubbell Directory of “AV” and am listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. I am a General Civil Practice Attorney specializing in the areas of Litigation Management, Corporate, Probate, Bankruptcy, Commercial and Banking Law, Zoning and Land Use, and Commercial and Residential Real Estate.

Tell us about your professional and social affiliations as well as any public service you perform.

My family and I are members of the St. Simons Island Presbyterian Church where I have served several terms as a Deacon, Elder and as a Trustee. In 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue appointed me to serve as a member of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia from 2007 through 2011. During my time I chaired the Academic Affairs and Medical Education Expansion Committees and the University System of Georgia Foundation. My wife and I started the Mary and Jim Bishop Endowed Scholarship in Public Affairs which we established to honor my family who are longtime residents and civic leaders in the Coastal Georgia region. Additionally, my wife and I  established The James A. and Mary R. Bishop Endowed Scholarship at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. I have served on the state’s Judicial Nominating Commission twice and am a long-standing member of the United States District Court Advisory Committee. I serve as chairman of the Board of the Directors of The Coastal Bank of Georgia, a Synovus Bank affiliate, and the Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation. I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and was one of the original founding trustees of Leadership Georgia. 

Dawgs of Sigma Nu:

Brother Mason Adams (Mu 2768) with his dog Jager who is a 13 week old Boykin Spaniel. Once old enough Mason hopes to train Jager as a bird dog but as of currently the only hunting Jager does involves gnawing on shoes or hiding socks.

Brother Conner Day (Mu 2687) and his dog Sadie who is a 2 year old British Labrador. Self proclaimed prettiest dog in the fraternity, Conner has trained Sadie to be an excellent hunting companion as you can see from the picture. When not hunting or training the two enjoy cheering on the Dawgs at Foley Field.

Brother Stone Pinson (Mu 2855) and his two dogs Addie and Willow love the outdoors as you can tell. Addie is the dark brown English Cocker Spaniel, and Willow is the multicolored English Springer Spaniel. Stone actually owns a business called Stonewall Kennels where he is training both of these dogs for general hunting and purpose retrieving. Whenever they are not training or in the field hunting, they enjoy fetching and belly rubs.

Brothers Helping ESP: 

On Friday March 19th, Commander Trey Williams Mu 2802, Lieutenant Commander Hill Hartman Mu 2745, and brother Paul Gies Mu 2806, traveled to ESP’s Camp Hooray in Jefferson Georgia. There they assisted in building several large garden boxes so the kids could plant flowers and vegetables and watch them grow during their time at camp. Thank you for putting your hands to use and helping the community, we are proud of your work and support of our friends at ESP.

On Saturday, March 27th, several  members of the freshman pledge class volunteered their time at ESP. Chaz Martinez Mu 2853, Nick Tuggle Mu 2829, Sam Shelton Mu 2823, Jay Wright Mu 2841, and Trey Hunter Mu 2854 were course monitors for ESP’s 5k race. This job included directing the runners in the right direction as well as cheering the runners on. We also had several guys run in the 5k such as Anthony Mazzeo Mu 2705, Michael McCarthy Mu 2746, James Devine Mu 2707, Bennett Porson Mu 2731, and Sam Parker Mu 2711. Thanks for going out and showing our support.

White-Rose Formal: 

On Saturday March 27th, the men of Mu Chapter and their dates took a trip to the Georgia Aquarium for this year’s formal event. The trip was well organized and included bus traveling, a window for dinner, and the main event which consisted of the Revelries band performance and an up close view of the beluga whales and whale shark tanks. The aquarium ballroom was large enough to accommodate all the brothers and our dates while still following social distancing guidelines. As the event came to an end, Recorder James Bruno (Mu 2776) presented formal awards including Bennett Porson (Mu 2731) as brother of the year and Shelbi Cobb as this year’s sweetheart. Many other great awards were given as well as some great speeches. In a school year of uncertainty, Sigma Nu White Rose Formal was certainly a great time! 

Brotherhood March Madness Tournament: 

In honor of the universally loved March Madness tournament, Marshal Jack Donovan, Mu 2741, put together a “Brotherhood March Madness” tournament. The tournament pitted families against each other, as teams were formed through lineage. As of now, the first round has been played, which allowed for a week of competition and congregation on the house front lawn. Over the next few weeks, the tournament will continue, and eventually a family will be crowned champion. In order to captivate the interest of our  less athletically gifted brothers, the tournament is paired with a bracket challenge. We are currently in the Sweet 16, and as the tournament continues so will the upsets. Be sure to check the Facebook page to see which family wins the tournament!