The Ultimate Prize Pack: In Honor Of The Bisset Brothers
The Ultimate Prize Pack is being offered in honor of James “Jim” Bisset (1928-2014) and B. David “Dave” Bisset (1919-2005).
James “Jim” Bisset (1928-2014)
After graduating high school, Jim served as a member of the US Army in Korea. Upon returning home, Jim went to work in the steel mills of Pratt and Letchworth. He worked his way from mill to management, serving as the company’s production manager until the plant closed. Then, Jim joined the HUNT Real Estate Agency Training Program. Within two years, Jim assumed management responsibilities. “Jim was a real leader and always a gentleman,” said Peter Hunt, chairman and chief executive officer of Hunt Real Estate. Jim retired from real estate and moved to North Carolina where he lived on the ocean and in the mountains. He also enjoyed some post-retirement side work serving up bagels from his own shop in Blowing Rock, NC. Jim was dedicated to his Scottish heritage and often shared family lore, including stories of his namesake, Sir James Bisset, captain of a ship that rescued survivors from the Titanic, his grandfather, Alexander Bisset, who sang with the famed Glasgow Orpheus Choir and his father, Bert David Bisset whose sailing adventures took him around the world and connected him with the infamous and the famous, including author, Jack London.
B. David “Dave” Bisset (1919-2005)
During World War ll, Dave wanted to join the Military, but bad vision made him 4-F. So, he joined the United Seaman’s Service (USS). Dave was sent to Guam, Morocco, Manila, Bremerhaven, Germany and ports around the world. He served as the Recreation Director for many US ships while they were docked. He said he couldn’t think of anything more positive than to keep the Army, Navy and Marines in shape even when they weren’t on ships. When Dave returned home, he served as the Director of the Recreation Department in the City of Radford, VA for more than 25 years. Under his leadership, Radford developed a recreation program that became recognized statewide as a model for other communities and was one of the first to offer “girls'” sports. Dave's community spirit and love of athletics led him to become a sports writer for the Radford News Journal, where he wrote for almost 25 years. He was the "Voice of the (Radford High School) Bobcats" on WRAD for 40 years. One of Dave's greatest accomplishments was to oversee the development of the city park along the New River, which was named in his honor, B. David Bisset Park.
