MANSFIELD — Jim Gorman’s life as an industrialist and philanthropist continues to resonate long after his death.
Just a quick glance at his life might lead one to believe he’s best known as a war hero. After all, the 1941 Mansfield Senior graduate was an Army Air Corps (Air Force) pilot during World War II, serving in the Philippines and New Guinea where he flew over 70 combat missions in a C-47.
But the son of James Sr. and Ruth (Barnes) Gorman, who was born in Mansfield on April 16, 1924, was just getting started.
His love of flying would forever be part of his journey. Jim’s grandmother bought him 10 hours of flying lessons after his high school graduation and the passion was ignited. He became a founding member of the 164th Fighter Squadron in June, 1948. It eventually became the 179th Airlift Wing stationed at the Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
After World War II, Jim earned his degree at Ohio State and began shaping the family business as President of the Gorman-Rupp Company. Gorman-Rupp Pumps was founded in 1933 by his father, J.C. Gorman Sr. and Herbert Rupp.
Incredibly, Jim would spend 73 years at the Gorman-Rupp Company.
His personal life was equally successful. Jim met and married Marjorie N. Gorman of Ashland in 1950. They shared 65 years of marriage with their love of family and aviation.
“My parents actually met at the regional airport,” their son Jeff Gorman said. “It was love at first flight.”
Marjorie was one of the first 100 women in the world to earn a helicopter pilot license. She was also a president of the Mansfield Aviation Club.
Meanwhile, Jim’s involvement with the Soldiers and Sailors Museum in Mansfield led to the development of the Frank P. Lahm Aviation Museum — with the Gormans donating the building.
The success of Gorman-Rupp has provided a living for generations of north central Ohio workers. Still, Jim’s philanthropic contributions may be even more significant.
Jim and his sister, Jean Bates, donated the land of the Gorman Nature Center to the Richland County Park District in 1975. Gorman also donated 35 acres of land on Ohio 97 to support the future YMCA sports complex.
He was involved with the Richland County Foundation, where he served on the Board of Directors, Mansfield Rotary Club, where he served as President, Mansfield Aviation Club where he served as President, EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Foundation where he served as President and was a member of the Board of Directors, Beechcraft Heritage Museum where he was a founding member and served on the Board of Directors, Contractor Pump Bureau, where he served as Chairman, CIMA (Construction Industry Manufacturer’s Association, where he served on the Board of Directors and EAA Young Eagles Program, where Jim flew over 240 flights for young people.
Jim and Avery Hand led fundraising efforts to establish The Ohio State University at Mansfield.
Gorman also donated land to the Clearfork Valley for the Bellville Dog Park, the YMCA Sports Complex and future home of the Unstoppables Softball Complex. Jim was a founding member of the Duke Flyer’s Association.
Jim received many awards for his service including the Mansfield-Richland Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award, the CIMA Lifetime Achievement Award, NCSC (North Central State College) Hall Excellence Award, NCOIM (North Central Ohio Industrial Museum) Hall of Fame Inductee, EAA (Experimental Aviation Association) Chairman’s Award and the Beechcraft Heritage Museum Young Eagle Award.
Jim’s love of flying was with him to the end of his life, which encompassed 99 years. He died on Sept. 21, 2023.
He was survived by his son, Jeff Gorman (Michelle); his daughter, Gayle Gorman Green (Rich); his grandchildren, Ryan James Gorman (Samantha), Curtis Gorman Freeman, Kelsey Scott Perin (Chris), Stewart Gorman Freeman and Elyse Gorman Freeman and his great grandchildren, Millie Scott Perin and Sunday James Gorman.
“Conversations around the dinner table weren’t about sports, they were about planes and what we were flying next,” Jeff Gorman said.
“He has a great legacy of giving back to this great community. Richland County was very good to our family, and he was a great advocate for our community’s resources.
“He did everything he wanted to do in his life and left with a smile on his face.”