Jim Kimsey

James Verlin Kimsey
James Verlin Kimsey
Born	15 September 1939 (age 87); Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	1 March 2016 (aged 76); McLean, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, military officer, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founder and first CEO of AOL

James Verlin Kimsey (September 15, 1939 – March 1, 2016) was instrumental in founding AOL, where he held the roles of the inaugural chairman and CEO until 1995. His leadership extended beyond AOL into diverse sectors including business, military service, and philanthropy.

Early life and education

Kimsey was born in Washington D.C. in 1939 and spent his formative years in Arlington, Virginia. After being expelled from Gonzaga College High School, he continued his secondary education at St. John's College High School. He then attended Georgetown University for a single term on an honors scholarship before graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1962.

Military

Serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Kimsey took part in military operations in both the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. He completed three combat deployments as an Airborne Ranger and received numerous commendations for bravery and service. His military achievements were recognized with his induction into the U.S. Army Rangers Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Distinguished Graduate Award from West Point in 2008 for exceptional national service.

Business

Following an eight-year military career, Kimsey acquired a property in downtown Washington, D.C., in 1970. There, he leased the upper floor while launching a bar named The Exchange on the ground level. Throughout the 1970s, he successfully expanded his portfolio by opening several additional bars.

In May 1983, leveraging a connection through Frank Caufield from West Point, Kimsey joined Control Video Corporation as a manufacturing consultant. CVC, established by William von Meister, offered an online gaming service called GameLine designed for the Atari 2600 system. Before departing quietly in early 1985, von Meister had brought Steve Case on board as a marketing consultant.

The company was restructured as Quantum Computer Services with Kimsey appointed CEO, Marc Seriff as CTO, and Steve Case among the co-founders. This organization eventually transformed into AOL. Kimsey led the company as CEO until 1995 when Steve Case took over leadership.

Additionally, Kimsey played a significant role as an investor and board member of Triple Canopy, a private security firm.

Philanthropy

As Chairman Emeritus of Refugees International, Kimsey was dedicated to advocating for refugee rights and addressing displacement challenges. He contributed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund board and held a Senior Fellowship with the Department of Defense Business Board.

He participated in the James Madison Council of the Library of Congress and was appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2010 to serve on the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, managing investment funds that support the Library’s collections and services. Furthermore, he was part of the Executive Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra.

Among his charitable efforts was founding the Kimsey Athletic Center at West Point in 1995 and establishing the Kimsey Scholarship program. This initiative provided military academy cadets from West Point, the Air Force Academy, and the Naval Academy with opportunities to obtain prestigious internships within key government institutions such as the Supreme Court, State Department, and Congress.

Honors

Kimsey was appointed to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and the West Point Board of Visitors through Presidential nominations. In 2001, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell designated him as Chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons, where he concentrated on using DNA technology to identify individuals lost in conflicts and natural disasters.

An office building located on the former AOL Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, bears the name The James Kimsey Center as a tribute to him.

Death

On March 1, 2016, Kimsey passed away from cancer in McLean, Virginia at the age of 76. He left behind three sons and four grandchildren.

Personal

Residing in McLean, Virginia, Kimsey lived with his three adult sons: Mike, Mark, and Ray.

In 1995, he established The Kimsey Foundation. Among his charitable contributions is the funding of the Kimsey Athletic Center at West Point.

Kimsey acquired the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Marden House in 2000 for $2.5 million.

In 2001, Colin Powell appointed him Chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons based in Bosnia. Later, in 2006, President George W. Bush invited him to join the board of trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Following his death, Kimsey's home in McLean was put on the market in May 2018 with an asking price of $62.95 million.

External links

Kimsey insider trading data, secform4.com