To know him was to love him. And for those who didn't know him, you really missed out.

Those who knew James J. &#8220Bear” Mains, really knew Jim Mains, could only speak in superlatives.

Mains, who died Tuesday at the age of 88, was involved in education and athletics almost his entire life, and it was through those professions that he touched and influenced thousands of lives.

&#8220He was a fine gentleman with a passion for life and the game. I'm sad to see him go,” Ironton head football coach Bob Lutz said.

Mike Burcham, assistant football coach at Ironton, began his coaching and teaching career when Mains was principal at the school. While most people called Mains by his nickname &#8220Bear,” Burcham always affectionately called him &#8220Chief.”

&#8220He was our mentor and I deemed him our chief for 41 years. I'll miss him dearly. I talked to him about a week ago and he was of sound mind. The amount of people he touched was unbelievable, not just him but through us by his influence. He had a lot of common sense and everybody liked him because he had time for everybody,” Burcham said.

Mains began his coaching career in 1941 at Ironton St. Joseph and guided the Flyers to their first unbeaten season in 1946 along with the Lawrence County League championship.

He also coached the Flyers basketball to their only regional tournament appearance in 1951.

Mains was the head football coach at Ironton High School from 1953-56 and later served as the school's principal and then in the administration offices.

He was the secretary of the Southeastern Ohio Athletic Board for 19 years and served as the president in 1976. He was on the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Control for two terms and had served as the district coordinator of tournament officials since 1976.

Mains is a member of the hall of fame for the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association and the Ohio High School Officials Association as well as a life member of the national Basketball Coaches Association.

One of his top awards, though, was being named the 1976 Ironton Sports Day honoree because it was from his hometown.

&#8220If you didn't like him, there was something wrong with you,” Burcham said.

As a member of so many different organizations, Mains was able to work with hundreds of individuals. It was working with these individuals that Mains was able to show others the qualities that he believed made a person a real success: Friendship.

&#8220Loyalty was big. He always said to do what's right and do your best. Fairness and loyalty were the most important things. I learned that from him and so did everyone who listened to him,” Burcham said.

Mains was a colorful person who had a great sense of humor. He loved to laugh, even if he was the target of the good-natured ribbing he often received when visiting friends such as Lutz and Burcham.

&#8220He always told us that if we weren't getting on him that we were mad at him,” Lutz said.

&#8220He loved sports, but he really loved Ironton football,” Burcham said. &#8220I don't know how many times after a game you would see him in the locker room. And he knew we were going to get on him. It's sad, but he had 88 good years.”

And so did those who knew him.