Jim Bob Tinsley

Jim Bob Tinsley, shown here at his 80th birthday celebration, was born in Brevard, North Carolina on August 12, 1921, and was educated in Transylvania County Schools, The University of Florida, and Arizona State College at Flagstaff. He served four years as an aerial photographer with the Navy in North Africa, Sicily and Italy during World War II.

Jim Bob authored the only definitive book on the the Sailfish and the hemispheric study of the Puma. However, he remained focused on two favorite subjects, Transylvania County waterfalls and cowboy-western music.

For all his adult life Jim Bob has photographed waterfalls of Transylvania County, researched their history and collected anecdotal materials. During the same time period he collected, performed and preserved western music and memorabilia. He received many awards and honors for his lifetime work.

Unfortunately, Jim Bob passed away on January 18, 2004. The Jim Bob Tinsley Museum provided free public access to the lifelong collections of Jim Bob and his wife Dottie, shown with him here.