Jim Darwiche

The Jim Darwiche Story

After four intense years of going to college and working full time, in 1974 Jim graduated with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Northrop Institute of Technology. 1975 was a hard year for the airline industry. While searching for a position with an airliner Jim worked for Safeway food stores in Los Angeles California. In 1977 Jim first came to Jackson Hole on a trip and he immediately fell in love with the valley. In 1977, Jim started a jewelry business with his long time friend, Gisela Siwek. The following summer they opened a small sandwich shop in the back of the Stage Stop Mall, "Hot Dogs and Hoagies." By the end of the summer his Volkswagen van (with a stained glass window on one side and a painting of the Tetons on other) and packed with everything he owned, was headed to Seattle, leaving the businesses for his friend to manage.

In 1978 Jim took a job with the Boeing company, working his way up, as planning engineer, reliability and maintainability engineer, then in the customer service research department. He was heading towards a job as a field engineer and Boeing representative overseas.
In July 1979 Jim and Safaa were married, and in May 1980, they had their first son, Sadek. Jim was finally offered the overseas Boeing representative position. Comparing the hardships of such a job and travel demands on his family, on the one hand, and his attachment to Jackson on the other hand, Jim and Safaa decided that it would be best if they stayed in the States.

In April of 1981, leaving a house behind, their VW camper was fully loaded again and heading to Jackson to raise a family, with a plan in hand to tear down Hot Dogs and Hoagies and replace it with Pedro's Mexican Fast Food. Pedro's was only open in the summer, and gave them the opportunity to travel in the winter.
After a four-month trip to West Africa in 1983, they realized how blessed they were to live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The idea of opening a fine collectable and gift store "A Touch of Class "was conceived. They started to really treasure all the things that they had taken for granted, like the cool, clean air they breathed, the genuine friends and neighbors, and all the freedoms that they enjoyed. After that trip, Jim And Safaa made a commitment to themselves to work hard and at the same time to provide their family the very best life had to offer.

Jim set out to accomplish one of his first dreams while in Jackson Hole. In September of 1984 Jim climbed the Grand Teton.
In March 1985 Jim and Safaa were blessed with their second son, Dorian. Dorian was born at St. John's Hospital, here in Jackson.During their years in business they have always been involved in the community. As a business they have supported many of our local non-profit organizations by donating or providing fund raising events throughout the years. Their favorite project is the sponsorship of the "Free Holiday Film Festival for Kids". They believe in tradition and through this event they hope that the children of Jackson Hole will always remember the holidays and all the small things they enjoyed.

After living over 25 years in this community, Jim understands the complexity, diversity, and changes that have been taking place. Jim realizes the many problems and challenges our community has been facing such as the housing problem, economic growth and development, and county and town coordination.
Jim believes the root of our differences is because we are diverse groups of people, who have come from different backgrounds to a town that has grown considerably during the last quarter century. So we have many small communities within a community that have been working very hard and have been very successful in their own areas for the benefit of the whole community. But we are still often divided. The first question many locals ask of a new person is "How long you have been living here?" It's our way to qualify a newcomer, to decide if we should accept them into our circle. Jim believes this is wrong, and our arms should be open to every neighbor who is willing to join our community.

We all have a lot in common and share an appreciation for this place. So many of us came from somewhere else, leaving behind our friends, families and big city lifestyles and opportunities. After all, this valley is not the easiest place to live, and money alone will not solve all our problems.
Jim has been a member of the Lions Club of Jackson Hole since 1984, and was president for the year 1988. There he learned, from genuine, honest Wyoming citizens, how to think above self and serve our community. Jim has been involved in many community events such as serving food at the Teton Fair, chairman for the Junior Miss program, the 49ers Ball, and other events that paid for various projects and gave assistance for many community needs.
In 1999 Jim joined the Rotary Lunch Club, which gave him new insight into ways to better understanding our community needs and formulate ideas new approaches for finding solutions to our problems.
In 1999 Jim was appointed, then elected, to the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, and served until his election to the Teton County Board of Commissioners. He applauds the achievements that the Chamber of Commerce has made in bringing our community together. He has worked tirelessly as a county commissioner to promote responsible government with progressive ideas and sensible development that protects our quality of life.

Jim founded the Historic Downtown Business Association, with the help of many business neighbors, in an attempt to bring the business community and the residential community together as a whole.
While participating in the Jackson Hole Leadership Program, Jim proposed an idea that was very close to his heart: starting the Farmers' Market on the Square. Jim formed a committee from diverse parts of our community, and against all odds, July 14, 2001 saw the first official Farmers' Market day on the Square. The community came together; people were hugging, smiles abound while many people were sitting around and chatting early that Saturday morning. That endeavor has been a fantastic success and a wonderful addition to our town square community atmosphere.
Jim is currently working on the "Town is Heart" concept. Jim hopes that by allowing housing to be built near the Square, this will create a pedestrian friendly environment where people can live, work, and play in the downtown area.

Jim has worked hard to make our community a better place. Family, business, recreation, community, whatever Jim does he does it with heart and a sincere desire to do the right thing and a determination to achieve success.