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|name=James Carroll "Jim" Beam<br>

|name=James Carroll "Jim" Beam<br>

(''Lake Charles American Press'' retired editor and columnist)

(''Lake Charles American Press'' retired editor and columnist)

|image=

|image=Jim Beam of LA.jpg

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|image_size=250px

|birth_date=October 7, 1933

|birth_date=October 7, 1933

|birth_place=Cameron, [[Louisiana]]<br>

|birth_place=Cameron, [[Louisiana]]<br>

Long-term resident of [[Lake Charles]]

Long-term resident of<br> [[Lake Charles]]

|death_date=

|death_date=

|death_place=

|death_place=

|spouse=Joann M. Beam<br>

|spouse=Joann M. Beam<br>

Children:<br>

Children:<br>

}}

}}

'''James Carroll Beam''', known as '''Jim Bean''' (born October 7, 1933), is a long-time [[newspaper]]man from [[Lake Charles]], [[Louisiana]], who is a staunch advocate for [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/james-beam/e41299923150|title=James Beam|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> Though retired since 1999 as editor of ''The Lake Charles American Press,'' he has long continued to write columns and editorials for the publication.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://ereserves.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/pdfs/beam250.pdf|title=Jim Beam Biographical Sketch|publisher=Ereserves.mcneese.edu|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>  

'''James Carroll Beam''', known as '''Jim Beam''' (born October 7, 1933), is a long-time [[newspaper]]man from [[Lake Charles]], [[Louisiana]], who was a staunch advocate for [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] former [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/james-beam/e41299923150|title=James Beam|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> Though retired since 1999 as editor of ''The Lake Charles American Press,'' he has long continued to write columns and editorials for the publication.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://ereserves.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/pdfs/beam250.pdf|title=Jim Beam Biographical Sketch|publisher=Ereserves.mcneese.edu|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>  

==Background==

==Background==

==Career==

==Career==

In 1961, Beam became a reporter for ''The American Press'' and was promoted to city editor in 1965, to co-editor in 1982, and editor in 1992. Since 1975, Beam has covered the Louisiana legislature and writes regular political columns which have won awards from the Louisiana Press Association, the Louisiana-[[Mississippi]] [[Associated Press]], and the Louisiana State Medical Society. His publications include ''Positively Beaming,'' a collection of 110 of his favorite columns, and ''A Matter of Trust,'' an excerpt of his Master’s Thesis that appeared in the Fall 1994 issue of ''The Tulane Lawyer.'' In 2000, Jim Beam was selected by the Advertising and Press Club to be the first “Lake Area Legend.” Although officially retired as editor, Beam continues to covers the state legislature and write editorials for ''The American Press.''<ref name=bio/> In 2017, Beam, along with four others, was inducted in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/03/11/las-political-legends-take-their-place-hall-fame/99050436/|title=La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=March 11, 2017|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>

In 1961, Beam became a reporter for ''The American Press'' and was promoted to city editor in 1965, to co-editor in 1982, and editor in 1992. Since 1975, Beam has covered the Louisiana legislature and writes regular political columns which have won awards from the Louisiana Press Association, the Louisiana-[[Mississippi]] [[Associated Press]], and the Louisiana State Medical Society. His publications include ''Positively Beaming,'' a collection of 110 of his favorite columns, and ''A Matter of Trust,'' an excerpt of his Master’s Thesis that appeared in the Fall 1994 issue of ''The Tulane Lawyer.'' In 2000, Jim Beam was selected by the Advertising and Press Club to be the first “Lake Area Legend.” Although officially retired as editor, Beam continues to covers the state legislature and write editorials for ''The American Press.''<ref name=bio/> In 2017, Beam, along with former state House Speaker [[Jimmy Dimos]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], lobbyist [[Maurice Mapes]], and West Monroe Mayor [[Dave Norris]], was inducted in the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2017/03/11/las-political-legends-take-their-place-hall-fame/99050436/|title=La.'s political legends take their place in Hall of Fame|publisher=''[[Monroe News Star]]''|date=March 11, 2017|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref>

Most beyond Lake Charles have learned of Beam through the [[Moon Griffon]] [[radio]] talk show; now a sharp Beam critic, Griffon earlier had expressed admiration for the editor's independence. The website The Hayride: Southern Politics and Culture in 2012 dubbed Beam "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a columnist who "hides behind the so-called mainstream mantra, when clearly [his] opinions are [[liberal]]." Bean has proposed means testing of the state Taylor Opportunity Scholarship Program, named for the [[New Orleans]] businessman Patrick F. Taylor (1937-2004). TOPS has been a particular benefit of the middle class. ''The Hayride'' claimed that Beam is trying to foment [[class warfare]].

Most beyond Lake Charles have learned of Beam through the [[Moon Griffon]] [[radio]] talk show; now a sharp Beam critic, Griffon earlier had expressed admiration for the editor's independence. The website The Hayride: Southern Politics and Culture in 2012 dubbed Beam "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a columnist who "hides behind the so-called mainstream mantra, when clearly [his] opinions are [[liberal]]." Bean has proposed means testing of the state Taylor Opportunity Scholarship Program, named for the [[New Orleans]] businessman Patrick F. Taylor (1937-2004). TOPS has been a particular benefit of the middle class. ''The Hayride'' claimed that Beam is trying to foment [[class warfare]].