He was one of those guys who really loved people and whom people really loved having around.
He was born James Franklin Oldham, but, as was the fashion of the day, he took a sharper name to use as a radio DJ, and as Jim O'Brien, he worked at radio stations in his native Texas, New York, and Los Angeles before finding his forever home in Philadelphia.
Somehow, O'Brien (who was the father of actress Peri Gilpin - the radio producer on "Frasier") found the energy to work as many as 18 hours a day. Channel 6 in Philly was located in the same building, making an easy commute for O'Brien to become the midday weatherman (back before stations really cared if their weather reporter was a meteorologist or not). He would also do the sports and anchor the news reports throughout the day, as well as hosting the local version of "Dialing For Dollars" and the weekend "Primetime" magazine show.
His daughter, Peri Gilpin.
Eventually, he gave up his radio duties, but only because there are but so many hours in a day. He loved broadcasting, and also had hobbies of flying a small plane, riding his motorcycle "The Chrome Pony" and skydiving.
And that's how he met his fate in September of 1983, when his parachute became entangled with that of another skydiver and he fell to earth, forever 44.
You could say he packed a lot of living into the time he had on earth, though.
The final record he played on the radio was prophetic. "Funny How Time Slips Away, " by Jimmy Elledge.
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