Veteran integrator Jim DeWitt of Legends Security & Sound had a unique business model in which he collaborated with other local companies. Jim DeWitt II, founder and owner of Legends Security & Sound in Columbia, S.C., along with his wife and business partner Gloria Anne Bellamy DeWitt, were victims of homicide, along with another family member, on October 9.
DeWitt, age 52, started in business while still in college earning his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina. His original focus was doing car alarms before moving into home security and later integration.
DeWitt was a longtime fixture at industry events… always with a smile and always asking questions. He was one of the initial integrators to take the CEDIA asbestos mitigation training course offered at the now-defunct EHX show in Orlando years ago.
James Benjamin Dewitt II was born on May 1, 1970 in Conway, S.C. Affectionately known as “Jim,” he was a 1988 graduate of Conway High School, Conway, S.C. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and recognized for excellence in Algebra II. He was a member of the marching band, concert band, and all county band. Jim was a school bus driver. In his senior year he was selected to participate in a summer Engineering Program at Clemson University, SAE Club, Citation Club, Key Club, and Awareness Club.
He attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. Jim was a member of the University of South Carolina Marching Band.
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In addition to being the founder and owner of Legends Security & Sound, Inc. for over 30 years, he was President of his Homeowners Association in Colurmbia, S.C. He was president of SC Electronic Security and Technology Association. His most recent accomplishment was being elected as an Atlantic Beach City Councilman.
After he relocated to Columbia, he became a member of First Nazareth Baptist Church. Jim was a loving husband and a devoted father. He was a person of integrity; a hard worker, goal oriented, very conscientious, likeable, and personable.
DeWitt, along with fellow integrators Brantley Waites of Elite Audio and Joe Tooley of Audio Perfection, had developed a collaborative business model with several other South Carolina integrators.
It started years ago when the individual companies were each working on large residential projects that were more than 2 hours apart. In order to be on the jobs every day, the trio realized they could cover for each other based on their areas of expertise. One dealer was on site handling security while the other was at another project handling audio and the third was onsite doing control and integration. The relationship between the three companies became even closer as each company relies heavily on Snap One as its primary supplier.
DeWitt operated a five-person team, while Waites and Tooley have smaller operations. The trio spoke daily, leaning on each other’s experiences on customer service and technical issues.
According to news reports, the couple was found dead, along with family member Natasha Stevens, after a welfare check by the police. Their son Matthew DeWitt, 25, is accused of killing them.
On a personal note, I met with Jim many times over the past 20+ years. He was one of the most insightful integrators who was always abreast of the latest trends. CE Pro mourns the loss and passes along its deepest sympathies to Jim’s friends and family.
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