James E. Heath

Jim spent most of his growing up years in San Antonio where he attended Woodlawn Hills Elementary, Jefferson High School and graduated from Peacock Military Academy. While at Peacock, he was a member of the Zouaves, a crack drill team, and a member of the Monkey Drill Team, a team that performed trick riding on horses, sometimes straddling four or five horses at a time, jumping hurdles and forming human pyramids on a team of horses as they were being put through their paces. JIm was made an officer and was in charge of the Day Student Locker Room, among other things. He helped pay his tuition by working as a stocker and sacker at Handy Andy.

He then attended and graduated from Baylor University in 1961. He went on to the Navy OCS and was shortly thereafter medically discharged. Jim spent the majority of his career in economic development, which included working for the Texas Industrial Commission, Sherman Area Chamber of Commerce and San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

Jim was appointed to and a member of various community and state boards and councils which included the Texas Economic Development Council, the Texas Chamber of Commerce Managers Association, the U.S. Department of Commerce North Texas District Export Council, Texoma and Concho Valley Private Industry Councils, Grayson County Airport Board and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Board.

He was appointed by the Texas Speaker of the House to serve as senior consultant to the Joint House Committee on Textile/Apparel Industry Development where he developed state support to target textile/apparel development as a major industry classification due to the state of Texas’ position as a significant raw material supplier. This led to the ultimate location of the American Cotton Growers denim mill to the Lubbock area.

Jim coordinated and developed a marketing program that secured multi-U.S. government enforcement agencies to locate to Texas including the U.S. Customs Area Enforcement/Interdiction, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration Automated Flight Service Center.

Also, he managed numerous industry location projects, acting as liaison between the State of Texas and various industries, including the initial location of Motorola Corporation to Seguin, which resulted in additional Motorola plants in Austin and Dallas. Other companies that located to Texas because of Jim’s efforts include Daiwa Spinning Company, Missouri Beef Packers and Evans Meat Company to name a few.

Jim will be remembered for his love of history, strong opinion of politics, love for the State of Texas and his never-ending devotion and love for his family. His sense of humor and jokes will live on through conversations amongst friends and family. JIm was a true artist who sculpted many western-themed pieces that will be passed on to those who appreciated them most. He is writing the western novel in Heaven that he didn’t complete here on Earth.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Leah Heath and is survived by his wife of 12 years Linda Dunevant Heath, children Kellie (Jack) Noel Heath White, Kimberley (Shawn) Kay Heath Brentham, Lisa Dunevant Griffin and Bobby (Donna) Dunevant, Jr., his sister Laura (Dan) Heath Smith, grandchildren Kye White, Lang White, Abbie Brentham, Gracie Brentham, Mollie Brentham, Jevin Griffin, Paige Griffin, Brandon Dunevant, Jessica Moon, Stacey Watson, nieces and nephews James Raymond Smith, Austin Smith, Rosemary Smith Bunch, Daniel Bunch, Victoria Bunch, Heather Smith Vacker, Courtney Vacker, Leanne Smith Davis, Ian Davis and Heath Davis.

A memorial service celebrating Jim’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, Texas. Internment will follow the ceremony. The family will receive visitors prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.