Jim Serrill, known asTimber Jim, was themascot for theUnited Soccer LeaguesPortland Timberssoccer team. A fan favorite from the earlierNorth American Soccer LeaguePortland Timbers, he came back in 2001 to join the new Portland Timbers.
On January 24, 2008, Jim announced his retirement. He was replaced byTimber Joey in the middle of the 2008 season.
In 1978, Serrill was coming regularly toTimbers games with his family. Soon he asked Timbers management (who were then owned by thetimber companyLouisiana-Pacific) if he could bring a chain saw to a game. They reluctantly allowed this and not too long after Timber Jim was created. He later added to the chain saw raised high above his head by bringing a drum and other acts to the game. Soon he was scaling high above the large crowds atCivic Stadium on a tall pole or "snag."[1]
After the original Timbers team folded, Serrill went back to work in the timber industry and laterPortland General Electric. When the Timbers were reformed in 2001 he returned with the team. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was killed in an automobile accident in 2004, and in her memory, theTimbers Army made a tradition of singing "You Are My Sunshine", her favourite song, while holding sunflowers, her favourite flower, often led by a tearful Timber Jim.[2]
Timber Jim was known as one of the best performers for any team, largely because of his unique talents as an actuallumberjack. These included:
On January 24, 2008, Jim announced his retirement. Over the years Jim has brought a few under his wing to pass on the role, with little success. His final farewell was a game played against thePuerto Rico Islanders on April 17, 2008, the Timbers home opener, which was won 1-0.[3] Timber Jim was succeeded by Timber Joey, another lumberman who saws log slices for successful Timbers players.[4]
He would return toProvidence Park on December 8, 2015, as part of the celebrations for the Timbers winningMLS Cup 2015. Along with Timber Joey, the two would slice off pieces of the team's victory log to award the two goals scored byDiego Valeri andRodney Wallace.[5] He would again return to Providence Park for the first game of the2016 Portland Timbers season againstColumbus Crew on March 6, 2016, to unveil the championship banner with Timber Joey.[6]