Arabians Ltd. announced yesterday
the passing of Jim Sirbasku on Tuesday, February 23rd. He was 71.
Jim will be remembered by the Arabian horse community as owner and operator of the world's largest Egyptian-Arabian horse farm, Arabians, Ltd. He was also hugely responsible for promoting the celebrated Egyptian sire Thee Desperado (The Minstril x AK Amiri Asmarr), with whom he had a special connection.
Jim, along with his beloved wife of 50 years Judy, began their lives
with horses in the late 1970s. They became acquainted with Egyptian
Arabians and before long, developed their own breeding program, Rock
Creek Arabians. Arabians Ltd. was created in the late 1980s with
the purpose of "educating, servicing, and supporting young breeders," and
since then, has set the standard as one of the most successful Egyptian
Arabian breeding programs in the world.
Jim's successful business career included many years at SMI (Success Motivation International), where he served for more than 20 years as a distributor and business executive. He later founded Profiles International, a worldwide corporation, serving as CEO until his death. He co-authored the book 40 Strategies for Winning in Business, and received numerous awards including SMEI's prestigious Pinnacle Award for entrepreneurship and community growth, and the State Economic Round Table of Oklahoma's Will Roger's Award. He was inducted into the Sales Marketing Executives International Academy of Achievement's Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame in 2002. He was co-Chairman of the Texas Air Expo in 1986 and served on the Board of Directors at the Dwyer Group for many years.
One of America's most enthusiastic speakers, Jim has addressed hundreds of audiences in the U.S. and abroad. He was a spokesman for the free-enterprise system and a mentor to many who have gone on to start their own businesses.
An announcement from friends and family reads: "He brought
out the best in all around him, as a motivator and supporter, and
left everyone who met him better for having had the opportunity
of knowing him. His smile was infectious and his hugs full of warmth
and love."
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 27, at St. Louis Catholic Church with the Msgr. Mark Deering as celebrant.
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room, Waco, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Reicher Catholic High School, 2101 North 23rd Street, Waco TX 76708-3397, to the PKD Foundation (www.pkdcure.org) to support research for polycystic kidney disease or Fuzzy Friends Rescue.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory in a "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.
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