James Bernard Radetsky was born January 18, 1913 to Bessie Krossner and Simon Radetsky in Denver, CO. He was the sixth of seven children and grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home. His parents were Russian/Polish immigrants who came to the US in 1887.

The family ran a grocery store on Colfax and lived behind the store. James delivered groceries and sold newspapers to help support his family. He attended Fairview Elementary, Cheltenham, and North High School graduating in 1929 just shy of turning 16. He received a full scholarship to the University of Denver, joining Phi Sigma Delta Fraternity, and later graduated from Westminster Night Law School in 1941.

James was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives from Denver County in 1944 at age 31. He served 3 terms as a Democratic legislator until 1951. He was only the second person of Jewish faith elected to the Colorado House. He practiced law and served on many philanthropic boards in the Denver area throughout his life. Organizing the Jewish National Fund in Denver, James raised money for Israel and served as the JNF chairman for 40 years. Along with three other community members, he also founded a Jewish day school in Denver, Hillel Academy. The Denver synagogue Base Madrash Kehillas Yaakov was named after him; Yaakov is his Hebrew name.

He met his wife Goldye Yeddis through his brothers who lived in Kansas City, MO. They married August 28, 1938 and had three daughters, Carol Lee (1941), Linda Joyce (1943) and Beth Ellen (1949).

He died in Denver on December 24, 1989.