James Ebenezer McCord

James Ebenezer McCord was born on November 2, 1916, in Victoria, Texas. He died on April 17, 2009, at the age of 91, after a gradual decline in health. Jim's parents, Corrie Clementine (Donalson) McCord and Thomas Mooney McCord were both Texans, from Victoria and Coleman respectively, who took up residence in Victoria with their three children Erin, Jim, and Thomas, before their eventual separation and divorce. On May 24, 1947, Jim married Jean Shibley in Los Angeles, California. Within the next several years they had three children--daughters Marion, Karen, and Erin. In 1993, Jean died and ten years later, Jim moved to Austin and has resided at Brighton Gardens since then. Jim first attended Victoria Junior College for two years, where he continued his high-school avocation as a lineman on the football team. Then he transferred to Pomona University, enrolling from 1936 to 1938. After two years at Pomona, Jim started work as a file clerk at the First Federal Savings & Loan in San Bernadino, California. He was drafted into the Army in 1941 and served from January 1941 to September 1945, achieving the rank Captain, and receiving both a Bronze Star and a Croix de Guerre, Etoile d'Argent before his honorable discharge. Following his discharge from the Army, Jim worked in a title insurance office and looked after the business interests of his father--living again in San Bernadino, California. It was during this time that he met Jean Shibley, granddaughter of Marion Bovard, founder and first President of the University of Southern California. Jean and Jim were married in Los Angeles, California, on March 29, 1948, and left shortly afterward to make a home in Victoria, Texas. After returning to Victoria, Jim decided to involve himself in real estate development. He opened Bon Aire, his first residential subdivision in 1952. Subsequent developments extended the northwest development of Victoria, bounding Victoria Junior College on the north and west. By 1963, Jim McCord together with a group of investors saw the value in creating the same kind of solidly attractive residential development in nearby Rockport, where eventually Harbor Oaks opened under his guidance. By 1975, Jim was able to retire and continue to manage family business interests. During his lifetime, Jim was active on the Board of Directors for the Bronson Home, where he served for many years. He was a licensed Realtor and a long-time member of the Board of Trustees for the First Victoria National Bank. For many years, Jim was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Victoria, before he resigned his membership after a reexamination of his faith. He was a loving husband and father, a good provider, and conscientious in his duties and responsibilities. Jim was a loyal friend and colleague--fair and even with one and all--who believed in seeing clearly and accepting life's realities. He was above all gracious, caring, and generous with a welcoming smile and accepting handshake for all those he met. Jim is predeceased by his wife, Jean, his brother, Thomas, his sister Erin Elizabeth Guittard, and his two youngest daughters, Karen Fraile McCord, and Erin Materanek. He is survived by his daughter, Marion McCord, his grandchildren, Lucia Fraile McCord, Colin Patrick Martin, and Elisa Fraile McCord. He is also beloved by his two surviving nephews, John and Stephen Peterson, and sons-in-law, Pedro Fraile and Roy Materanek. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 9, at The First Presbyterian Church, 2408 N. Navarro, in Victoria, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice.