James Raymond Viramontes

Jimmy was born in La Union, New Mexico. He knew at a very young age at Holy Cross School in Las Cruces New Mexico, that his true calling was to play and coach basketball. Through the mentoring of his first basketball coach, Monsignor Caffery, Jimmy was on his way to fulfill his dreams by playing for the University of Texas on a basketball scholarship. As a 5’7” play making guard he helped lead the Longhorns to a Southwest Conference Championship in 1951. During this time he obtained his BS and Masters Degrees and Commissions in the US Air Force. He served two years prior in the US Navy. During his esteemed career in coaching he served as the first basketball coach at McCallum High School, Assistant Head Coach at the University of Texas, and Head Coach at then West Texas State University. His teaching and administrative years included Science Teacher at McCallum High School, Vice Principal at Porter and Kealing Junior High Schools, and Reagan High School where he retired in 1990 as Head Principal. He was honored January 11, 2002 by former University of Texas recruits for recognition of the role he played not only as a coach but as a lifetime mentor for their success. On October 11, 2005 Coach Viramontes was inducted into the University of Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Inez E. Viramontes and 11 Siblings.

He is survived by his beautiful and devoted wife of 53 years, Alta, three daughters, Anne, Mary (husband Keith Williams), and June (husband Doug Eaves): grandchildren Lily Eaves, Ethan Rice, Nicole Eaves, and Sister Teresa Holguin.

Before his passing Jimmy expressed gratitude for the medical support teams that made such an impact on how he lived his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association at (512) 338-2400, American Kidney Fund at www.kidneyfund.org, or Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America at www.ccfa.org.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Thursday, the 30th of August 2012, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 31st of August, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 4311 Small Drive, Austin, Texas. Interment will follow in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Cook-Walden Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.