James Milton Weldon

James Milton Weldon was born in Rocksprings, TX on November 16, 1949, to Forrest Jackson Jr and Rubie Mae Wilson. The family moved to San Antonio where Jim was active in Boy Scouts. As an Explorer Scout, he became an expert at hiking, cave exploring, and canoeing. His troop took several trips through West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. His boyhood summers were spent fishing and swimming along Cypress Creek and the Blanco River in Wimberley. Often, he was joined at the creek by his cousins: Carl, Clark, and Steve Weldon. Fall meant hunting season at the Ranch in Rocksprings. Jim was an avid hunter! All the family enjoyed going to Blue Hole, near Campwood, Texas.

Jim graduated from Robert E Lee High School in San Antonio in 1968. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont graduating in May 1972, with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was here that he met his lifelong friends Dean Hulsey, Kevin Hill, Wayne Zander, and Ron Loving.

After working at Cameron Iron Works in Houston, Jim attended graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin. He completed his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, in 1976, and went to work at the National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Jim then returned to Austin and worked briefly for the Astronomy Department at UT. In 1977, Jim was asked to head up a research branch for ASTEC Industries and established a facility on Howard Lane in Austin. Throughout Jim’s career, Don Brock, head of ASTEC, and so many of the other people at ASTEC, ( in Chattanooga, TN) touched Jim’s life in positive, powerful ways.

On October 22, 1977, Jim married Betty Grace Rylander and the two had three children: Katherine Grace Dillard, Virginia Lee Weldon, and Andrew James Weldon. In 1981, Jim went to work for Parker Drilling and was asked to head up their research group, Parker Kinetic Design, PKD. Here he designed homopolar generators and other pulsed power equipment. Jim worked closely with the engineers at CEM (Center for Electromechanics) UT Austin. The generator PKD built for The Netherlands was moved there by Roy Lee. The Lees, Jim Upshaw, Mike Werst, and many others at PKD and CEM formed friendships with Jim that continued throughout his life.

Much of the electromagnetic rail gun technology was developed at CEM in conjunction with PKD. Jim was able to hire Dennis Hildenbrand, a pulse power design engineer at CEM, for PKD to work at the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. There they managed the daily operational activities of the rail gun. Dennis and Joyce became like a second family for Jim whenever he traveled to the Arsenal. Jim also worked with the Navy on electromagnetic launch possibilities in San Diego and with homopolar generators at Eglin Air Force base near Destin, Florida.

In 1997, Jim set up an office for Telsmith, a division of ASTEC, on his beloved ranch in Liberty Hill, Texas. The whole family moved to Liberty Hill in the fall of 1997. Jim built much of the house himself on weekends. Jim embraced small town life. Charles and Kathy Cannady welcomed him with open arms. Jim became active in The Masonic Lodge, the LH Cemetery Association, the Spit and Whittle Club on Main Street, and the Methodist Church.

In December 1997, Jim was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which he battled for the rest of his life. Sensing that his days of mobility were numbered, Jim invested much time and joy in taking his family on car trips to New Mexico, Colorado, California, Florida, Louisiana, and even Canada! The family also enjoyed summers in Rockport.

In 2001, Jim was asked to be a Vice President of Telsmith, but he decided to stay in the Austin area. He went to work for UT at the Balcones Research Center. Jim retired in 2007, and continued to do consulting for various companies from his office in Liberty Hill.

Jim loved his family and friends! He was so excited to have people visit him in Liberty Hill. All three kids provided lots of socialization by inviting various groups to the house. The Weldons hosted sections of the Liberty Hill band, study groups, FCA, birthdays, wedding showers, baby showers, and Jim’s favorite, watching UT football! All these activities provided a wonderful audience for Jim to impart his “Jimisms”: His response when someone asked him, How are you doing? “I’m finer than a frog hair split four ways;” His response when someone told him Good Bye, “I’m so glad you got to see me.” His response to kids whining for something: “Well, people in hell want ice water!”

He was the happiest when he was sitting on his porch with his dog and a friend, just drinking his Dr. Pepper and watching the sunset. His faith was strong and became even stronger as his disease progressed. Every night, after turning out the light, he and his wife would recite the Lord’s Prayer together. They were married 48 years before Jim passed on February 5, 2026.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Betty Grace, his daughter, Katie Grace Dillard, his son-in-law, Frank Dillard, his daughter, Ginny, his son, Andrew, his daughter-in-law, Bethany and his grandchildren, Sam Dillard (10), Ava Dillard (7), Ben Dillard (4), Jake Weldon (6) and Maggie Weldon (5). He is also survived by his brother, Bill Weldon, sister-in-law, Morey, and their children Bill and Seth. He is also survived by his wife’s brother, Grady Rylander, and his wife, Margie Rylander, his wife’s brother, Gary Rylander, and his wife, Cathy, and his wife’s sister, Martha Beiter and her husband, Kevin Beiter. His nieces and nephews added so much to Jim’s life, and they affectionately called him “Big Jim.” Thank you to Chris Rylander, Ingrid Rylander, Matthew Rylander, Nathan Rylander, Jonathan Rylander, Rebekah Rylander, Bonny Beiter Preda, Daniel Beiter, and Michael Beiter for your many visits, phone calls, and uplifting conversations.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the many hospice workers who gave of themselves so tirelessly. Lois Long, Tracy Goggins, and Andrea Posey; you are truly angels here on earth! Thank you New Hope Manor for taking such good care of Jim during his last 4 months of life.

His Celebration of Life Service will be on Sunday, March 1, at 2pm at the Cross Tracks Methodist Church 101 Church Street Liberty Hill, Texas 78642

In lieu of flowers, please give to the Cross Tracks Methodist Church at https://crosstrackschurchumc.org/. or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://nationalmssociety.org/.