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Rhode Island's Jim Luiz
By Mike Becker

Jim Luiz was growing up in East Providence, Rhode Island when the whole eastern New England area was a hot bed of pigeon racing. Not that it isn't highly competitive today, but the number of competing lofts has gone down considerably, like most areas of the country.

It all started for Jim when his older brother Joe had been raising some homers, but quickly tiring of it, traded the birds with another kid for a transistor radio. Of course, the birds soon showed up, back at the Luiz's. Joe, not wanting them any more, gave them to Jim.

Jim got so into the birds he would play hooky from school and hitchhike his way down Route 195 to Fall River, visiting numerous lofts all along the way. One of his favorite stops was Manny Brun's. They soon became the best of friends and under Manny's tutelage Jim got serious about racing pigeons. He joined the Bristol Racing Pigeon Club in 1966 and started racing, using an old two-bird timer. When Manny bought a new clock, Jim was given his old Plasschaert timer, which he was able to use for many years.

In 1967 he joined the Rhode Island club and flew birds off of stock he had gotten from Joe Oliveira and Manny Lema. He flew partners with Mickey Gama for a few years and in 1980 and 1981 flew from Rolland Miller's house. All the time Jim was gaining valuable knowledge to become a consistent winner in the sport.

When he moved to the house he now lives in, in Pawtucket, RI, he had to leave the Rhode Island club and fly in the Pawtucket Pigeon Club. Living in Pawtucket required special licensing to keep pigeons, which was also a by-law requirement to be a member of the Rhode Island club. Until he got such a license he would not be allowed to fly with the RI Club members. At the Pawtucket club he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ray Carter, Tony Melucci, Ray Charpentier, Billy Howard, Bobby Tavares and Frank Rowse. Jim had also become a flyer to contend with in his own right.

In 1983 the licensing requirements were dropped and they disbanded the Pawtucket club and they all joined the RI Club where the "Jim Lewis Loft" continued to win club races, combine races, average speed awards, champion loft awards and of course numerous champion bird awards. His stock birds consisted of birds from Ray Carter, a special line of birds from Frank Rowse's 500 mile winners and some Stickelbaut/Van Hees from Tony Melucci. This blood is still prevalent today along with some choice crosses of birds from Norbert Norman, a prepotent Billy Howard hen and a number of select Dobbelaere birds.

While commenting on the sport of racing today, Jim believes hard work and good birds will bring one success. One of the major problems that plague flyers today is the use of too much medication. They end up breeding birds that don't have the natural fortitude to handle the stress of the races. Another problem is the breeding influx of too many speed bird families. As soon as a race gets a little tough or too long the birds go down. They just don't have what it takes to win a race where they have to work at it.

Jim adheres to breeding the best to the best and trying an outcross once in awhile to see if an influx of something new will bring an improvement. If not, eliminate that introduction. Jim uses the "deep litter" method on the loft floors, but not really deep, just dry. If it becomes damp at all, he removes it immediately.

He is a hard trainer, but watches the weather closely.

He wants the birds to work, but not get hurt. The birds need to keep their confidence to perform well. Jim is also a believer in feeding the birds nothing but the best. If the birds get the best of everything and don't perform, then they should be eliminated and better stock obtained. That alone saves the extra money spent on the better feed. No sense putting good time and money into something that won't give you the results you want. Bad pigeons eat just as much as good ones.

In regards to new people trying to enter the sport, Jim believes new people don't get enough proper education of the basics and get discouraged easily. Jim recommends clubs keep a library of good videos to show to the new flyers as part of a new member's program.

Jim's winnings are way too numerous to mention, but to give one an idea of him and his bird's abilities: In 2006, the Jim Lewis Loft won 1st old bird short average speed; 2nd old bird long average speed; 1st overall old bird average speed; 10th champion young bird loft; 4th young bird average speed and 1st overall young and old bird combined average speed. His "102" won 7th champion old bird.

In 2005 the Jim Lewis Loft won 3rd old bird short average speed; 2nd old bird long average speed; 2nd overall old bird average speed; 2nd champion loft old and young birds combined; 1st young bird average speed and 1st overall young and old bird average speed. His champion "102" won champion old bird with a remarkable season of a 1st at the 500, a 5th at the second 500 and a 5th at the 600.

In 2004 the Jim Lewis Loft won 1st old bird short average speed; 6th old bird long average speed; 1st overall old bird average speed; 1st champion loft old birds; 1st overall young and old bird average speed. His champion "102" won 2nd champion old bird.

In 2004 the Jim Lewis Loft won 1st old bird short average speed; 6th old bird long average speed; 1st overall old bird average speed; 1st champion loft old birds; 1st overall young and old bird average speed. His champion "102" won 2nd champion old bird.

I believe that gives a good picture of the Jim Lewis loft - consistency, consistency and consistency.