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 Jim Sykora has been recently
inducted into the Michigan State Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame of Friday, January
26, 2001. Jim has been an association member since founded in the early 50’s and
served on the Board of Directors from 1967 to 1971. Jim has had so many experiences by
being an auctioneer that is would take a book to explain all of them. Let’s try to
give you some of his lifetime achievements.
Jim attended Reppert School of Auctioneering in 1948 and started a
career as an auctioneer for the Prince and Company Livestock Auction in St. Johns, MI and
sold for them for many years. Jim married in 1953 and moved to Claire, MI in 1954. He has
sold at the Marion Livestock Yards for 16 years, sold at Gaylord Livestock Yards for 17
years, sold at Standish Livestock for 17 years, at Clare Livestock Yards for 10 years and
continues to fill in there. He also sold at Breckenridge, MI for 15 years as well as put
in 32 years at the Michigan Livestock Yards at St. Louis, MI. He has since retired from
St. Louis MLE. Jim started with is first farm sale in 1954 and gradually his business
expanded. By 1960 he was selling 50 private auctions a year, plus his weekly livestock
sale barns. Jim’s profession expanded greatly by 1970 and he was selling 100+ private
auctions a year along with the Livestock sale barns. His works included farm machinery,
dairy & beef auctions, household and antiques, and small industrial type sales, such
as service stations, restaurants, etc.
In 1981, Jim invited his son, Scott
Sykora, to enter the auction profession. Scott
worked with him as an apprentice auctioneer, and after selling for 5 years, they became
partners and worked as a professional auction team. In 1992, Jim sold the family auction
company to Scott and Jim still continues to sell at the Auction at his own pace as founder
of Sykora Auction Service, Inc. Some of Jim’s other experiences took him all over the
state conducting 4-H auctions every year for the last 36 years. He entered the World
Championship Livestock Auctioneer Contest in 1967 on Mackinaw Island and took 2nd Place.
Jim has had a very good working relationship with the public and has been respected for
his honesty and integrity. We truly believe that Jim has contributed so much to the State
of Michigan for his many years as a dedicated professional auctioneer and would like the
public to know about the Clare Company Legend James J. Sykora, Auctioneer.
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