Jim Willingham lost his battle with cancer in April at the ripe young age of 50. Jim was probably the best known window cleaner in the industry and was instrumental in the formation of the IWCA. Jim was also a very fast window cleaner, for many years he was the fastest American window cleaner in the world. Jim and his wife Jacinda owned and operated New-Day Window Cleaning in Lubbock, Texas with their capable and dedicated crew. Jim and the gang at New-Day used Water-Fed Pole equipment day in and day out finding it to be a safe, effective and affordable way to clean their customers’ windows.
In 2006 Jim joined us here at J. Racenstein to promote Water-Fed equipment to the window cleaning industry. For the first several months he hosted JRC Expos around the country. Over drinks one night we dreamed up the concept of a rolling showroom for WFP equipment; we decided to call it the Window Wagon. Later it became Willingham’s Window Wagon.
Jim was diagnosed with cancer while in California in March of 2007 on the Wagon’s first leg. He valiantly battled the disease while in Texas, and still made it out for trips on the Window Wagon. Even when tired and weak he showed up and spread the word. During 2007 most of his cancer appeared to have left him, but in February of 2008 they found more tumors, this time in his spine. The small cell cancer was aggressive and he passed away April 10th.
Jim is greatly missed by his teammates at J. Racenstein. He started us on our WFP path and we intend to keep it going; we think it’s what he would have wanted us to do. Jacinda remains a close friend of the business.
