The net has lost a TRUE pioneer

[shurlee]

Jim Wilson passed away Tuesday. [memorial.jimworld.com...]

Some of you may not know who Jim is but there would likely be no webmasterworld were it not for him. I joined Brett's link farm back in 2000 by reading his tips in Jims search engine forums.

At the very least, it would be a different SEO world without Jim's influence. He willed be missed.

[excell]

He was an amazing man and it is truely touching to grasp just how positive and wide spread his influence has been. Don't forget to sign the memorial guestbook on the site as well, for his family.

[bill]

If it were not for Jim's SEF and other sites about 6+ years ago I truly doubt I would be where I am today or doing what I'm doing now. Thanks Jim for the community and the inspiration. You touched a lot of us more than you could ever know.

[mil2k]

Yes SEF was the first forum i joined. Just reading through the posts gives you an idea about the goodwill he has among this community.

[Winooski]

I also started out at Searchengine Forums and JimWorld. I loved how his newsletter, JimWorld Gazette, would always end with:

The Gazette is not free.

It is 'Helpware.'

Each week you must help one person on the web who has less knowledge than you. Pick a forum posting or an email each week and help that person even if you have to visit their site to find the best answer or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will make you feel better, and will help a lot of people get their sites running better.

OK, you're on your honor.

We're still on our honor.

Thank you, Jim!

[pageoneresults]

He's probably starting another forum where he is going now!

I too began at SEW back in the days. Almost all of the veterans in this industry started with SEW and migrated to other communities as the industry matured. SEW was the pioneer in establishing a well respected community of web masters and marketers.

I've always followed Jim's Helpware philosphy. Heck, I even proudly displayed the Helpware Site icon for a couple of years on my personal properties.

RIP Jim Wilson. :(

[Robert Charlton]

It's surprising how many of the members here are people I first met at Jim's place. I think we're all a fair amount wiser for having been there. Thanks Jim....

[makemetop]

Jim will be sorely missed - but never forgotten by many of us. Thanks, Jim - for the advice and inspiration you provided to so many people who are leaders in the world of SEM today. My heartfelt sympathy to his family.

[div01]

A very sad moment indeed. My condolences to his family and friends. The JimWorld site, the forums, and newsletter have helped many a novice like myself.

[jk3210]

I'll always remember how, after 9/11, Jim posted a few messages that made me feel a strong kinship with him.

He was a good guy.

[Reno]

I've just read all the heartfelt testimonials to Jim Wilson, and in almost every case it was said that SearchEngineForums was the starting point, and, because of the great volume of information that was freely given by Jim, the person's life was changed for the better.

I too will throw my hat into that very large ring -- I had never posted at any forum until I "found" SEF, and, from that point on I started seeing results from my struggling web efforts. Thanks Jim.

The great majority of us hope to go through life and maybe leave the world a little bit better; the extraordinary among us manage to touch a multitude of lives. Put Jim Wilson in that latter category. So thanks Jim -- the WWW is a better place because of you, and a little poorer with you gone. Your great spirit will be deeply missed...