Doc graduated from Wallace High School in 1950 where he lettered in football and basketball. It was in Wallace the he developed his competitive, caring, hard working nature. He attended the University of Idaho then off to St. Louis to begin his master’s degree in dentistry graduating from the University of Washington in 1959.
After serving as a Captain in the United States Army and working as an Army dentist he arrived back in Wallace to start his dental practice. Doc devoted most of his time to the youth of his city.
Doc coached 8 years in Little League then 8 years in Babe Ruth Baseball serving as president of the baseball league for 8 years. He served as president of the Idaho Ski Club at Lookout Pass and president of the Mighty Mite Racing Team for 12 years. He was president of the Wallace Youth Association for 30 years and a Cub Scout leader. Doc was president of the Wallace High PTA, and Wallace Gyro Club. Of all the hats he wore he was the most proud of the 30 years he spent as the youth activities leader at the Wallace Elks Lodge where he organized and directed the Hoop Shoot, Drug Awareness, Teen of the Month, Youth Scholarships, and Drug Stompers Club for local 6th and 7th graders In 1990 Jim started the Hall of Fame for Wallace High School.
Jim was awarded Honorable Lifetime Membership to the Idaho State Elks Club where he was also appointed Grand Tiler. . While in Wallace he served as Exalted Ruler twice, and was a trustee. He was state president and a state trustee. Doc served on many state and national lodge committees. Doc served on the Elks Rehabilitation Hospital Board and was a Chain of Hospital Board Trustee for two years.
In 2000 Doc was asked by Carl Kiilsgaard to take over the reins for the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame and the North Idaho Sports Banquet. His hard work and dedication has transformed the annual sports banquet into the largest such banquet in Idaho.
These just scratch the surface of the contributions Jim has made over the years. His civic endeavors are unsurpassed. A remarkable part of his legacy is that through all the work he had fun. He changed people; he helped a community and he loved life. Along the way he always had the support of his now deceased wife, Marietta and his four children, John-Laurie-Amy and Ken. He enjoys his grandchildren Jimmy, Christina, Aliah, Danny, Kimberly, Aaron, Mariah, and Jake and attends all their many events. Jim currently lives in Hayden with his new bride Marion.
As the saying goes “You can take the boy out of Wallace, but you can’t take Wallace out of the boy”…this is so true for Jim, who continues to do all he can to support the Wallace Elks and other Valley endeavors.
So this is Doc’s bio, but it really doesn’t capture the true essence of Jim “Doc” Lynn—his motto was and still is, “How can I help? What do you need?” Not for praise like this award, but because that’s just who he is; one of the good guys, a true Wallace and Idaho hero.