James "Jim" Ullrich

Jim died peacefully on Sunday, December 15, at home with his wife, Cathy, by his side. Per Jim’s wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes scattered over one of his favorite hiking places. He was the only child of Irene and Otto Ullrich who lived in Yankton SD and later moved to Wagner SD. Irene was a nurse, and Otto was a farmer and later a property owner/manager.

Jim’s occupations were science, computer science, photography, and punditry. He graduated in 1959 from Wagner SD High School. He then attended the SD School of Mines for two years where he majored in physics. He received a National Defense Fellowship and transferred to the University of SD where he received a BS in Psychology. Jim attended Penn State Univ. where he received an MS in Psychology. Then Jim attended Southern Illinois Univ. where he received his PhD.in Quantitative Methods in Psychology.

In 1969, Jim started teaching at UM. His office was in the basement of what is now the Rankin building, and he was one of the first two people to have a computer. He instantly loved them and never lost that interest. When the first UM Computer Science Dept (CS) was formed, he became the Assistant Manager. Jim decided that to stay in CS he needed to get an upper degree in it. Lewis & Clark College in Portland OR offered him a unique position: He would teach there and at the same time enter their CS MS program.

 Jim returned to Missoula to teach CS, and he served on the Academic Curriculum Review Committee where he helped the University change from quarters to semesters. He published papers on learning theory, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and conjoint measurement. He was promoted to full professor of CS. 

After 25 years of teaching, Jim retired but the CS Dept. asked him back. He taught another 8 years working only with graduate students teaching them how to write code. Also, Jim flew to Great Falls twice a week to teach CS to the people at Malstrom Air Force Base. When he finally retired, he was given the title of Professor Emeritus; a special honor the Board of Regents gives to a professor who made outstanding contributions in there field.

For recreation Jim ran, skied, hiked, and climbed at least eighty mountains in the Bitterroots, Missions, Canadian and Glacier Mountain ranges. He climbed the highest peak in South America, Aconcagua (22,800+feet), and the highest in North America (Mt. Denali once called Mt. McKinley 20,320 feet). These hikes were done in the days of cotton and wool.

 Jim liked to joke that the highest peak in his life was meeting and marrying his wife, Cathy Pippin in 1993. Jim and Cathy loved to hike to high mountain valleys where they would camp for 3 to 5 days. They loved to travel and took many trips together. As a retirement gift, Jim spent three weeks on an REI Antarctica Expedition.

Jim also loved photography: Several of his prints have sold or have appeared in photographic and climbing magazines.

For many years, Jim participated in Meals on Wheels. He would always take the longest route that sometimes went all the way to Clinton.

At his request, no services will be held.