Remembering.. James "Scotty" Doohan

I am a day late but March 3rd would have been Jimmy's 91st birthday.

Over the years I had the opportunity to see and on two occasions actually have some time to speak to him even if for a brief moment.

A convention promoter that went out of business put on a convention in Springfield, Oregon in 1998.  They promoted it as a the Fab Four Tour as it had Jimmy, Nichelle, George, and Walter appearing at the convention together.  The convention promoter considered cancelling the convention at one point as the recent shooting at a local high school in respect to the community.  The guests wanted to go on and give back to the fans.  Walter had cancelled for some reason I do not recall.   Jimmy was never one to sit back in the hotel room and do nothing.  I remember everytime I turned around he was sitting at his table signing autographs for the fans.

That evening they had an event called Dinner With The Stars.  The guests came in after we had finished eating dinner and wandered around and mingled with the fans.  A cabaret show followed and one moment that comes to mind is when Jimmy asked Nichelle to come on stage and they performed a beautiful duet.

The second memory of seeing him was at a fundraiser for his grandsons elementary school in Tacoma.  He appeared on stage doing his Q&A, signed autographs, and posed for pictures.  I wish I still had (I am not sure what happened to it) but I had a picture of him with his arms wrapped around Steve and I for a photo.

Finally, a surprise appearance.  I was attending a convention promoted by Horizon Entertainment in Bellevue that had Ethan Phillips and Armin Shimmerman in attendance.    The day was wrapping up and Ethan/Armin were on stage signing autographs.  We were getting ready to leave when my friend David said quietly.  turn around.  I turned around in time to see Jimmy sneak on stage and surprise Ethan and Armin.  Apparently, neither of them had met each other yet.  Jimmy was living in Redmond and dropped in on them.  It was arrange between Jimmy and Armins wife as surprise.

Happy Birthday Jimmy.  we miss you!