James B. Moore, formerly of Springfield and more recently Quincy, died Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Arcadia Care in Jacksonville. The son of Kenneth E. and Lillian Zappa Moore, he was born June 11, 1948, in Pontiac, Illinois, and spent his early years in Dwight before his family moved to Riverton, Illinois. Jim met lifelong friends and graduated from Riverton High School in 1966. He continued his education at Springfield College in Illinois.

Gifted with a “great set of pipes” and “vaccinated with a phonograph needle,” Jim began his long and successful Springfield broadcasting career in high school as a remote board operator for WTAX Radio. His first on-air DJ position was at WCVS, then he became program director at WFMB. In 1979, he joined WDBR as program director and afternoon drive announcer. Jim had a great ear for hit music, designed clever promotions to engage listeners, and could dissect a radio ratings book like no one else.

After leaving WDBR in 1994, he opened Jim Moore Productions, a digital audio production studio. For many years, he produced and voiced “Drive Time,” a monthly audio show for sales agents of the Franklin Life Insurance Company (later American General and AIG). Jim produced many radio commercials for political clients and was especially proud of the ads created for Jesse White’s first campaign for Illinois Secretary of State.

Jim was one of the “four swell guys” who opened The Mansion Nightclub and Beer Garden in Riverton in 1984. He booked many national touring acts for the venue, including Pure Prairie League, Cheap Trick, Dicky Betts and Gregg Allman, BTO and Starship.

Jim possessed a curious mind and was a lifelong learner, with a particular interest in technology. He was also known to try things such as growing popcorn and cigar tobacco to prove it could be done in a different climate. He enjoyed many adventures camping, boating and fishing with the “canoe brothers” and liked to play golf. He crafted “sling shot golf” played with a putter and a set of rubber bands tied to a golf cart, once scoring a hole-in-one during an outing at The Oaks. He loved motorcycles, classic cars, watching boxing and cheering on the Fighting Illini basketball teams with his buddies.

Jim is survived by his longtime partner and creative collaborator Lisa Crocker of Quincy, his sister Kim and brother-in-law Jim Rusciolelli of Springfield, and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, aunts and uncles, and several cousins.

Cremation rites have been accorded under the direction of Duker and Haugh Funeral Home in Quincy. In lieu of formal services, please raise a glass and share a happy memory about the funny, fun-loving, kind and talented person who was Jimmy Moore.