I knew Jim for a long time before high school. Two incidents were in the “never forget category”. The first was related to the church that our families went to when we were young ... the First Methodist Church on Bridge Street. There was a Methodist Church camp in Kerrville in the summer, and when we were in junior high, we both went there for a week & bunked together. I had never been away from home, and at that point in my life this was a major milestone. The second was related to family cars. Jim was left-handed … and his family had a 55 ford with automatic transmission. My family had a 56 Ford with manual transmission (1st, 2nd, & 3rd gears). He never had driven a manual transmission car, and he wanted to see what it was like. As you may remember, Jim was left-handed. As he drove down the street in front of John Sheppard’s house, he approached Ben Jordan, and at that time there was a ditch & an open field beyond the intersection. Apparently, he always used his left foot to brake & his right foot for the accelerator. As he approached the intersection, he attempted to brake with his left foot … but he unfortunately depressed the clutch, & the car tumbled into the ditch. His folks were quite upset & insisted on covering the damages. Jim was a good friend when we were young … but as we went on to high school, we went different directions … he played football & I played tennis. But I’ll always remember our youth together. I always had the highest respect for Jim.
Jim was a really good friend thru the school years in Victoria. After graduation, we drifted away, and I hadn't seen anything of him in decades. Was just wondering recently how and where Jim was. This was not the answer that I was looking for. Too many - too soon.
Thomas Jarrell
My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends. I have fond memories of Jim.
Bill Fly (William Fly)
Jim was my neighbor, teammate, and dear friend. I was so shocked and sorry to hear of his passing. Prayers and blessings to his family.
Wayne Hanselka
Prayers and condolences for Jim and his family, May he Rest In Peace...
John Zeigler (Zeigler)
So sorry for the loss for all of Jim's family and friends. Good memories.
Pruett Burge
Condolence to family and friends. Lost contact with him through the years, but had many fond memories of him from high school.
Bobby Brown
I knew Jim for a long time before high school. Two incidents were in the “never forget category”. The first was related to the church that our families went to when we were young ... the First Methodist Church on Bridge Street. There was a Methodist Church camp in Kerrville in the summer, and when we were in junior high, we both went there for a week & bunked together. I had never been away from home, and at that point in my life this was a major milestone. The second was related to family cars. Jim was left-handed … and his family had a 55 ford with automatic transmission. My family had a 56 Ford with manual transmission (1st, 2nd, & 3rd gears). He never had driven a manual transmission car, and he wanted to see what it was like. As you may remember, Jim was left-handed. As he drove down the street in front of John Sheppard’s house, he approached Ben Jordan, and at that time there was a ditch & an open field beyond the intersection. Apparently, he always used his left foot to brake & his right foot for the accelerator. As he approached the intersection, he attempted to brake with his left foot … but he unfortunately depressed the clutch, & the car tumbled into the ditch. His folks were quite upset & insisted on covering the damages. Jim was a good friend when we were young … but as we went on to high school, we went different directions … he played football & I played tennis. But I’ll always remember our youth together. I always had the highest respect for Jim.
Bob (Robby) Smith
Jim was a really good friend thru the school years in Victoria. After graduation, we drifted away, and I hadn't seen anything of him in decades. Was just wondering recently how and where Jim was. This was not the answer that I was looking for. Too many - too soon.
Fred Krebs
Condolences to the family. Jim was a good guy.