James Carley

Jim Carley, whose extraordinary business career spanned six decades, died November 28, at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. He was 86 and had lived in Madison since 1967.

Jim's base was Madison, but his reach, often on projects that included his brother, David - together they founded the Carley Capital Group in 1974 -stretched from coast to coast. The Carleys did commercial and residential development, with projects that included the Henry S. Reuss Federal Plaza in Milwaukee, the Monterey Hills condominium community in Los Angeles, and the Foundry, an office building in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Historic redevelopment was a specialty, and a number of Carley restoration projects are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and others have received artistic and architectural awards. Jim helped oversee the rehabilitation of more than 300 buildings in 20 states, among them the Iron Block building in downtown Milwaukee, and the 100-year-old Cairo in Washington, D.C., that city's tallest building.

When David Carley moved to Washington D. C. in 1980, Jim remained in Madison, and continued his position as a highly respected civic leader, serving on numerous prominent boards, including the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Chazen Museum of Art, Monona Terrace Convention Center, State Public Defender's Office, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, and - especially rewarding for a devoted Wisconsin football fan - the Green Bay Packers. Jim counted the legendary Packers coach, Vince Lombardi, as a good friend and business associate, which suggests the vast scope of Jim's life. Yet his beginnings could hardly have been more humble.

James Earl Carley was born in Detroit, Michigan, on Nov. 26, 1929, the son of Berndt Carley and Laura Cook. Jim's upbringing was shaped by the Depression. He and David lived for a time with another family when their own parents took servant jobs in a wealthy home. Jim's first job came at age 11, when a nearby farmer hired him to tend his geese.

Out of high school, Jim attended Western Michigan University. He married Virginia Pollard in 1950, and the following year was drafted into the United States Army, serving with the Sixth Tank Battalion, first as a tank commander, and later an instructor at Fort Hood.

After the service, Jim and Virginia settled in Chicago, where Jim initially sold industrial material handling equipment and attended Illinois Institute of Technology. Eventually he took a job with the Calumet Industrial District Co. At Calumet, Jim designed a more efficient method to load and unload railroad cars, an early example of the innovative thinking that distinguished him throughout his career.

In 1964, Jim became the National Sales Account Manager at Towmotor Corporation, a Cleveland-based manufacturer of forklift trucks. In his time there, he was promoted to West Coast Regional Sales Manager. Under Jim's direction, the division rose to first in the company which played a pivotal role in Caterpillar's acquisition of Towmotor in 1965.

In 1967, Jim joined his brother, David, in Madison - where they established a company called Public Facilities Associates, Inc., a forerunner of Carley Capital Group. Neither brother had experience as a developer, but there were federal dollars available for elderly housing projects. The Carleys seized the day. Soon they were involved in the urban development projects that became perhaps their greatest legacy.

Their development success led them to branch into other areas, including cable television, a service they were instrumental in bringing to Madison and surrounding areas. In 1980, they acquired Stanton and Lee Publishers, specializing in the works of celebrated wildlife artist Owen Gromme.

In 1978, Jim served as campaign treasurer for David's run for governor. That may have had something to do with the assumption that Jim was a Democrat, but he always referred to himself as an Independent. Over the years elected officials on both sides of the aisle called on Jim for help in both official and unofficial capacities. He knew a lot of people, and he knew how to get things done.

In the 1990s, Jim began consulting for a wide variety of businesses, developers and entrepreneurs while continuing to serve on numerous private and public boards and commissions. He was especially pleased with the significant role he was able to play in getting the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Monona Terrace from the blueprint stage to its 1997 fruition.

Jim often insisted that he was too busy to have hobbies. "Work is a hobby," he said more than once. Still, he knew how to have fun. Jim loved boats and the water - at one point he purchased Russell Marina in Madison - and was particularly proud of the 57-foot Trumpy that he named Overdraft. He appreciated and collected art, and enjoyed reading, especially biographies and mystery fiction.

Jim took great joy in his family. He was preceded in death by his former wife, Virginia Pollard and his brother, David Carley. He is survived by his three children, Bricker (Karen) Carley, Robin (Liz) Carley, and Janet Carley (Bob) Spence; his dearest friend, Camille Haney; and eight grandchildren, Benjamin Carley, Joe (Angie) Carley, Tim (Kristan) Carley, Elizabeth (Teddy) Cravens, Jamie Carley, Jennie (Travis) Braga, Carley Spence(Matt) Fortosis, and Katy Spence; as well as nine great-grandchildren.

In recent years, Blackhawk Church played a special role in Jim's life. One of his favorite Biblical passages was John 11:25: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'" He greatly enjoyed the sense of community he experienced in his men's small group which met every Wednesday morning for a time of Bible study.

The family appreciates the loving care Jim received during his brief stay at the VA Hospital. Also, thank you Doug Moe, a long-time friend of Jim's, for preparing this special tribute to him.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, December 18 from 2:00-4:00 p.m., with a memorial service from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at Blackhawk Church, 9620 Brader Way (off Mineral Point Road) in Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two organizations that were important to Jim:

OperationFreshStart or

Blackhawk

Please share your memories of Jim.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434