NORCROSS, Ga. — Jim Copeland, one of three men who purchased B.A.S.S. from ESPN in 2010, has died. Copeland passed away Monday, following a short illness, at his home in Peachtree Corners, Ga., where he was surrounded by his family.
An avid bass fisherman, Copeland was a partner with Don Logan and Jerry McKinnis in buying B.A.S.S., LLC. A former global CEO of Deloitte, the international financial services firm, Copeland was a leader in community service as well as business. He was a board member of United Way International and served on the board of the 9/11 Memorial Fund, which raised more than $400 million of private funds for victims of the attack.
He was known for his leadership in diversity and enhancing the role of women in business, especially in the firms where he worked. In retirement, he joined the boards of Coca Cola Enterprises, Equifax, Time Warner Cable, and ConocoPhillips. He was both a senior fellow at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a Global Scholar at Georgia State University.
He is survived by his wife Patricia; his two sons, James Edwin Copeland, III (Trip) of Atlanta and David Watson Copeland and his wife Darcy F. Copeland of Peachtree Corners; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Copeland wished for donations to be sent to Norcross Cooperative Ministries, 2275 Mitchell Road, Norcross, GA 30071; www.norcross-op.org.