I.B. Palmer

I.B. was born June 11, 1924, in Greenbriar, Arkansas to Roy and Ida (Thomas) Palmer. He graduated from Conway High School in 1942 and was attending Arkansas State Teachers College when he enlisted in the Army at the onset of World War II.

I.B. married his high school sweetheart, Wilidean Hazel, on October 11, 1943 in Rockford, Illinois. Upon his discharge from the Army, I.B. signed a contract to play baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals Organization. The Cardinals sent him to Lamesa, Texas to play in what was known as the West Texas New Mexico League. In 1951-52 I.B. played and managed for the Lubbock Hubbers. He retired from professional baseball in 1956 with a lifetime batting average of .348 and decided to make Lubbock his home. For the next 30 years he worked for Farmers Supply in the farm implement business while continuing to play semi pro baseball, officiating high school football and basketball, and becoming a very accomplished golfer.

I.B. was a member of the Broadway Church of Christ and enjoyed being able to serve as a greeter every Sunday. I.B. was a very outgoing man who loved people and got great joy from watching his three grandchildren grow up.

He is preceded in death by his parents. I.B. is survived by his wife, Wilidean of Lubbock; his brother Rudy and his wife Mary of Austin, Texas; two sons, Richard Palmer of Lubbock, and Rod Palmer and his wife Donna of Lubbock; three grandchildren, Blake Palmer of Las Vegas, Nevada; Zane Palmer of Denton, Texas; and Abby Palmer of Lubbock, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in I.B. Palmer’s name be given to The Children’s Home of Lubbock.