While attending college at Platteville, Azim had become involved with the Young Republicans and became a passionate member of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.[3] A year after completing his undergraduate degree, in 1958, Azim made his first attempt at elected office when he launched a primary challenge against long-time Republican incumbent State Representative Hugh A. Harper.[4] Despite a vigorous campaign, the 22-year-old Azim came in a distant third behind Harper and challenger William A. Loy, of Fennimore.[5] He remained actively involved in politics, and was active in the 1960 congressional campaign of Vernon Wallace Thomson.
In 1961, he was elected to a seat on Muscoda Village Board. The next year, he launched another campaign for State Assembly, again challenging incumbent Hugh Harper in the Republican primary.[2] Although he was defeated again, this time he came within 5% of Harper.[6] Following the 1962 election, Azim went to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School and, while there, worked as a legislative assistant in the Assembly.[7] When Harper died unexpectedly in 1963, Azim announced he would make another attempt at election to the Assembly. On his third attempt for State Assembly, Azim was finally victorious. He took 63% in the Republican primary and 62% in the April special election.[8]
Azim was reelected to a full term in November 1964, and completed his law degree in the Spring of 1965. He was subsequently reelected three more times in the Grant County Assembly district and two more times in the 49th Assembly district after the 1972 redistricting.[1] In the Assembly, he was known as a moderate, outspoken against both the Republican and Democratic majorities at different times in his career.[9]
Personal life and family
Azim married Elizabeth "Betty" Nalepinski, April 26, 1958, at St. John's Catholic Church in Muscoda.[10] They had three children together before his death in 1976.[9]
Azim suffered kidney failure in 1973, and required dialysis three times a week.[9] Inspired by his personal difficulties, he was an author of legislation in 1974 which authorized the state Medicaid program to fund dialysis treatments.[11] After three years of dialysis, early on the morning of May 16, 1976, Azim received word from the Mayo Clinic that a compatible kidney was available for transplantation. He and his wife immediately drove to Minnesota, and the transplant took place at 10am that morning.[12] Azim suffered complications from the surgery and required two additional surgeries to correct digestive problems.[13] Azim's condition continued to deteriorate, and, after 30 days in the hospital, he died.[9] He is buried in St. Johns Cemetery in Muscoda, Wisconsin.[14]
^Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin State Party Platforms and Elections" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 660, 698. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin" (PDF). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1964 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 720, 764. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
james, azim, january, 1936, june, 1976, american, attorney, republican, politician, member, wisconsin, state, assembly, representing, grant, county, from, 1964, until, death, 1976, wisconsin, legislator, member, wisconsin, state, assemblyin, office, january, 1. James N Azim Jr January 17 1936 June 14 1976 was an American attorney and Republican politician He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Grant County from 1964 until his death in 1976 Wisconsin legislator James N Azim Jr James N Azim Jr Member of the Wisconsin State AssemblyIn office January 1 1973 June 14 1976Preceded byDistrict establishedSucceeded byRobert S Travis Jr Constituency49th districtIn office April 13 1964 January 1 1973Preceded byHugh A HarperSucceeded byDistrict abolishedConstituencyGrant County districtPersonal detailsBorn 1936 01 17 January 17 1936Richland Center WisconsinDiedJune 14 1976 1976 06 14 aged 40 Mayo Clinic Rochester MinnesotaResting placeSaint Johns Cemetery Muscoda WisconsinPolitical partyRepublicanSpouseElizabeth Betty Nalepinski m 1958 1976 wbr Children3Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin Platteville B S University of Wisconsin Madison LL B Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Political career 3 Personal life and family 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditAzim was born in Richland Center Wisconsin in Richland County 1 During his childhood he moved with his family to Muscoda Wisconsin and graduated from Muscoda s St John s High School 1 He attended St Thomas College in Saint Paul Minnesota but did not earn a degree there he continued his education at Wisconsin State College Platteville where he received his bachelor s degree in 1957 After completing his undergraduate education he worked briefly as an assistant in the history department at Marquette University before returning to Muscoda where he taught history at Muscoda High School 2 Political career EditWhile attending college at Platteville Azim had become involved with the Young Republicans and became a passionate member of the Republican Party of Wisconsin 3 A year after completing his undergraduate degree in 1958 Azim made his first attempt at elected office when he launched a primary challenge against long time Republican incumbent State Representative Hugh A Harper 4 Despite a vigorous campaign the 22 year old Azim came in a distant third behind Harper and challenger William A Loy of Fennimore 5 He remained actively involved in politics and was active in the 1960 congressional campaign of Vernon Wallace Thomson In 1961 he was elected to a seat on Muscoda Village Board The next year he launched another campaign for State Assembly again challenging incumbent Hugh Harper in the Republican primary 2 Although he was defeated again this time he came within 5 of Harper 6 Following the 1962 election Azim went to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin Law School and while there worked as a legislative assistant in the Assembly 7 When Harper died unexpectedly in 1963 Azim announced he would make another attempt at election to the Assembly On his third attempt for State Assembly Azim was finally victorious He took 63 in the Republican primary and 62 in the April special election 8 Azim was reelected to a full term in November 1964 and completed his law degree in the Spring of 1965 He was subsequently reelected three more times in the Grant County Assembly district and two more times in the 49th Assembly district after the 1972 redistricting 1 In the Assembly he was known as a moderate outspoken against both the Republican and Democratic majorities at different times in his career 9 Personal life and family EditAzim married Elizabeth Betty Nalepinski April 26 1958 at St John s Catholic Church in Muscoda 10 They had three children together before his death in 1976 9 Azim suffered kidney failure in 1973 and required dialysis three times a week 9 Inspired by his personal difficulties he was an author of legislation in 1974 which authorized the state Medicaid program to fund dialysis treatments 11 After three years of dialysis early on the morning of May 16 1976 Azim received word from the Mayo Clinic that a compatible kidney was available for transplantation He and his wife immediately drove to Minnesota and the transplant took place at 10am that morning 12 Azim suffered complications from the surgery and required two additional surgeries to correct digestive problems 13 Azim s condition continued to deteriorate and after 30 days in the hospital he died 9 He is buried in St Johns Cemetery in Muscoda Wisconsin 14 References Edit a b c Azim Jr James N 1936 Wisconsin Historical Society 8 August 2017 Retrieved February 25 2021 a b Azim to Seek Assembly Seat Wisconsin State Journal February 27 1962 p 3 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Muscoda YGOP Wins State Essay Contest Wisconsin State Journal June 11 1956 p 17 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com James Azim Seeks Seat in the Assembly Wisconsin State Journal May 22 1958 p 2 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Toepel M G Kuehn Hazel L eds 1960 Wisconsin State Party Platforms and Elections PDF The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960 Report State of Wisconsin pp 660 698 Retrieved February 25 2021 Theobald H Rupert ed 1964 Elections in Wisconsin PDF The Wisconsin Blue Book 1964 Report State of Wisconsin pp 720 764 Retrieved February 25 2021 Azim to Seek Assembly Seat Wisconsin State Journal January 22 1964 p 19 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Theobald H Rupert ed 1964 Addenda PDF The Wisconsin Blue Book 1964 Report State of Wisconsin p 785 Retrieved February 25 2021 a b c d State Rep James Azim 40 dies after kidney transplant Wisconsin State Journal June 15 1976 p 1 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Elizabeth Nalepinski Marries James Azim Jr Wisconsin State Journal May 8 1958 p 12 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Ambrose Adam May 31 1974 State to Pay for Dialysis Wisconsin State Journal p 31 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Rep Azim has kidney transplant Wisconsin State Journal May 18 1976 p 1 Retrieved February 25 2021 via Newspapers com Azim makes progress Wisconsin State Journal June 8 1976 p 6 Retrieved February 26 2021 via Newspapers com Where is James N Azim Jr Buried peoplelegacy com Retrieved June 23 2021 External links EditJames N Azim Jr at Find a GraveWisconsin State AssemblyPreceded byHugh A Harper Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant districtApril 13 1964 January 1 1973 District abolishedNew district Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 49th districtJanuary 1 1973 June 14 1976 Succeeded byRobert S Travis Jr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James N Azim Jr amp oldid 1165936586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
