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James Howard Schatz was born in Delia, Alberta, February 29th, 1924. He came to Langley with his family in 1931, attending both Milner Elementary and Langley High School before going to UBC. Jim joined the Langley Advance staff as a reporter in 1947, but also wrote for The Province from 1947 - 1953. At the same time, Jim farmed in the Willoughby area, and on March 22, 1951, he married local school teacher Norma Helen Walters. The couple had four sons and two daughters - two sons and both daughters died of cystic fibrosis, leaving two sons, Allen (Joe) and Ian. Jim and George Johnson became co-owners of the Advance in 1958 when E. J. Cox retired and Fred Cox sold his interest in the paper while retaining his commercial printing part of the firm. Perhaps thanks to Jim, the Advance was one of the first papers outside of a metropolitan area to get a modern multilith press in 1947, soon followed by a Klischograph engraver for photos. While remaining a consistent presence in the newspaper world, Jim raised registered Shorthorn cattle, was the president and principal owner of Langley Travel Services Ltd. after 1972, and was a director of a group of businessmen that built Highland Village Mall. Jim Schatz died of a stroke February 4, 1990, at the age of 65.
Term Source: HPC Record (HPC-365/1134), Willoughby School Photos.