James Word Sansom Jr.

James Word Sansom Jr. was born in Austin, Texas on January 15, 1937 and lost his battle with Covid 19 on February 27, 2021. His parents were James W. Sansom Sr. and Genia Jones Sansom. He always liked to say that he grew up in the shadow of the Tower of the University of Texas. In his youth he lived across the street from the UT Memorial Stadium and played there and at the Memorial Museum and on Waller Creek. He graduated from Austin High School in 1954 and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from UT in 1963. He was a lifetime member of the UT Ex-Students Association.

He began his geological career with the Texas Highway Department in February 1962. During this time, Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown was discovered while he was supervising the drilling of the core holes for Interstate Hwy. 35 bridges. This discovery would be one of the highlights of his career. He loved taking students and groups through the cavern and telling the story of its discovery. In 1965 he worked for the Texas Department of Water Resources, now known as the Water Development Board. From 1980 until he retired from the State in 1989, he worked for the Texas Railroad Commission in their Surface Mining and Reclamation Division. After retiring from the State, Jim worked as an independent consulting geologist providing environmental geologic assessments for engineers, city and state agencies, and individuals. He loved being in the field and was a true field geologist.

He was an active member of the Austin Geological Society from 1965 until his death. He was also a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists and the Association of Engineering Geologists. In 1996 he received the AIPG Public Service Award for his outstanding contributions to achieve a Registration Act for Geologists in the State of Texas and also the AEG award as the Outstanding Engineering Geologist in the Texas Section for his tireless effort for registration. In the past decade, Jim enjoyed volunteering with the UT Jackson School of Geosciences to help with their GeoForce educational program to encourage minority students to obtain careers in science, technology, engineering and math. He enjoyed working with the young students and staff of GeoForce and was excited with the success of those students.

On August 12, 1961 he married Minnie Faye Edwards in Colorado City, Texas. They lived in Austin, and in the 1960’s they had two sons, Alan and Marc Sansom. In 2001 they moved to Liberty Hill, Texas. Jim is survived by his wife Faye; his sister Elouise Denton of Dallas; his sister-in-law Dalphene Bruton of Marlin; his son James Alan Sansom and his wife Mesrain (Jeanette) of Austin; his granddaughter Jennifer Burrough and her husband Lance of Fort Worth; his grandsons, James Edward Sansom and his fiancée Caitlin Neville of Austin and Tyler Hamilton Sansom of Manor; and his great-grandson Parker Lane Burrough; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Marc Hamilton Sansom, sister-in-law Olga Edwards, his brothers-in law Spinks Edwards, Joe Don Denton and John Dexter Bruton Jr.

The Celebration of the Life of Jim Sansom will be on Saturday, August 14, at 2:00 o’clock in the banquet room of the Maggiano’s Italian Food Restaurant in the Domain, 10910 Domain Drive Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78758.

Donations may be sent online to www.operationlh.org or mailed to Operation Liberty Hill, Food Pantry, at PO Box 1081, Liberty Hill, Texas,78642, or to the charity of your choice.