James was born on April 29, 1944 in Lufkin, Texas.   He went on to graduate from Robert E. Lee High School then Lee Junior College in Baytown, Texas before entering the workforce as a young man eager to begin the next phase of his life.

It was clear from an early age, James had the gift of gab.  He was never shy about meeting people or sharing stories with just enough embellishment to make them interesting.  This gift served him well while he honed his skills as a salesman and professional embellisher with Tex Tan.  In his first year on the job, he went on to become the top salesman and continued to repeat that honor 10 years in a row, breaking all previously held sales records for the company.  Soon thereafter, the company changed ownership and James made the decision to strike out on his own and formed P&J's wholesale where he specialized in selling fishing supplies, sunglasses, T-shirts and all manner of merchandise to convenience stores and small shops throughout the central and coastal regions of Texas.  He kept the company going until finally settling down into retirement.

When he wasn't "in the zone" breaking sales records, he spent his free time with Pat and the boys camping, hunting, gardening and fishing.  As the sons grew up and started families of their own, he took great joy in the grandchildren with a sense of care and patience that only a grandparent could have.  It's from these life experiences that he would find inspiration for most of the "grand stories" he used to captivate onlookers around the campfire, the local coffee shop, the feed store, or the occasional passerby.

To sum up James' life and influence on those who had the opportunity to know him would be impossible.  However, his steadfast commitment to his wife, family and friends is a testament to a life well lived and serves as inspiration for those of us who try to follow in his footsteps.

"Things so near and yet so far

Lives of peace and beauty are

Then reflection upon one life brings

Memories of such forgotten things"

S.R.L.