Rick,
I did meet Jim Shirley, who came and sat down with us for lunch. What a true treat and a real gentleman. His life story would surely make an interesting biography and he is charming in telling it. For those who were not familiar with his partnership with Joe Finger and Ken Dye (before Baxter Spann), that was his root in architecture before he spent his time in France.
Furthermore, I agree that it is well worth the visit.