McGuire was “a good friend,” said longtime Moraine City Manager David Hicks
“Jim enjoyed people,” Hicks added. “He liked meeting new people and working to improve things for the folks he knew, and becoming a member of city council gave him that opportunity.”
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Prior to being elected to an at-council seat for three terms, McGuire was on the Moraine Board of Zoning Appeals for 10 years, eight of which he served as chairman. He ran for city council in 2007, losing the Ward 2 seat to future Mayor Bob Rosencrans, according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
“When I first met Mr. McGuire, we lived in the same neighborhood, and would enjoy many conversations about his life,” Hicks added. “He was not shy in stating letting you know his opinion. He would tell you exactly what he thought, but he was always interested in listening to others.”
McGuire camouflaged a soft side, a trait that was always on display around those close to him, said Moraine Mayor Elaine Allison.
“Jim had a big personality and could appear gruff.,” she said. “But on the inside he was a big softie, especially when it came to his great grandkids, Trenton and Chloe, and his big goofy dog Fisher.”
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“Jim spent tons of quality time with Trenton and Chloe, and always brought them to city events,” Allison added.
McGuire was elected to an at-large council seat in 2009, finishing second to Allison in a race for two seats, according to the elections board. He ran unopposed in re-election bids in 2013 and last year.
He spent “countless hours” on the ZIP code issue when the U.S. Post Office was planning to change city codes, Allison said.
“For many people, a ZIP code is a city identifier and most people identified that the 45439 zip code was Moraine,” she said. “He thought it was important that the city didn’t have another ZIP code.
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“He met with the postmaster and anyone else that would listen to his case about unifying the city with one ZIP code,” according to Allison. “And after many meetings, letters, petitions, etc. the United States Post Office acquiesced and the residents of the 45418 ZIP code got the 45439 ZIP code, all due to the time and effort that Jim put into it.”
McGuire also worked in the automotive and real estate fields. He also served as a chaplain, on the Eastwood Lake Racing Committee and was a past president of the Kettering Optimists Club, according to the city.
“His faith in God allowed him to be at ease with the many challenges of life,” Hicks added.
During his time on council, he has served on the city’s annexation committee, the Moraine Citizen Emergency Response Team, and on the boards of Miami Valley Communications Council and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.
“The city and region have lost a leader, and his family has lost their rock,” Hicks added.
Arrangements are set for Monday, April 2, at the West Carrollton Church of the Nazarene, 550 S. Elm St. West Carrollton. Visitation is from 3-7 p.m. with services at 7 p.m.
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