Art of Recompense Character Synopsis 12 - James "Jim" Hawes

James Hawes is what Aspen locals call an "Original"—a man whose family roots in the mountain community date back to the late-1800s silver-mining boom. While most residents fled when the silver crash of 1893 devastated the local economy, the Hawes family stayed, transitioning from mining to construction and helping build the town that would eventually become an internationally renowned resort destination.

Now in his late fifties, James inherited Hawes Construction Company from his father and has spent his life building many of the multi-million-dollar homes that dot the mountainsides. His weathered, strong features and calloused hands speak to decades of honest work in the Colorado sun and mountain winds. Unlike the wealthy seasonal residents who treat Aspen as a playground, James measures worth by character rather than bank accounts.

Those who know him describe James as a genuinely good man; reserved in the traditional way, but possessed of deep loyalty to his community and an even deeper devotion to his wife, Rebecca.