Jimmy was born in Breckenridge, Texas, on October 15, 1931, to J.C. and Ethel Nail. He graduated from Breckenridge High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 and a Master of Science degree in 1958, both in agricultural economics, from Texas A&M University.
He married Elaine Fairbanks on August 25, 1957, in the chapel at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, only the 11th couple to be married in the chapel at that time. He and Elaine had been married 65 years at the time of their passing.
Following his graduation, Jimmy took a job at the O'Donnell, Texas, Coop Gin until April 1958, when he got a job as the manager of South Gin Coop in Brownfield, Texas. Both sons were born during this time.
When the family moved to Lubbock in 1970, he joined the staff of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA). He was actively involved in the merger of three gins in the American Cotton Growers Organization at Crosbyton, Texas, that resulted in the first "super gin" in West Texas, which was uniquely designed to unload and feed modules of 20,000 lbs. of seed cotton into the ginning operation at a time.
He later assisted in the innovative planning and organization of producers into the cooperatively owned American Cotton Growers denim textile mill at Littlefield, Texas. It has since been sold.
Through his work with cooperatives, Jimmy was instrumental in the organization of ginning and warehouse operations and cotton marketing associations that currently operate as a nationally recognized network sup- porting the Texas cotton industry. When he retired from PCCA, he worked for Samuel Jackson, Inc., selling cotton gin equipment for several years. After his retirement, he regularly continued to attend meetings of regional and local cooperatives to remain in contact with the agricultural community. Jimmy received many awards for his work in the cotton industry, espe- cially his work with cooperatives. He was named Cooperator of the Year for 1991 by the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council. He also received the Distinguished Service Award in 1986 as one "who for many years has given generously of his time and talent to foster and promote the development of the agricultural cooperative endeavor," presented by the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council and the Farm Credit Banks of Texas In 2009, Jimmy was inducted into the Tyrus R. Timm Honor Registry in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M. While serving in the Army during the Korean conflict, he was awarded the Bronze Star for "Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against the enemy."
Jimmy loved his family and spent a lifetime making memories with them, including lots of camping when the boys were younger, especially his time as a Scout dad, and lots of travel throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, his parents, J.C. and Ethel Nail, and his half-sister, Mary Margaret Dunagan.
He is survived by his two sons, Ron (wife Angi) of Lubbock, and Danny of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; three grandchildren, Justin Nail (wife Elena) of San Antonio, Lindsay Woodard (husband Ronnie) of Crozet, Virginia, and Christian Nail of Englewood, Colorado; and one great-grandson, Wesley Woodard, of Crozet, Virginia.
Jimmy was a member of the Helping Hands Sunday School class at Calvary Baptist Church. Memorial gifts can be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, the American Cancer Society, the Texas A&M Association of Former Students, or the Carillon Foundation.
Serving as pallbearers are Terry Baker, Michael Reeves, Mark Sandlin, Ronnie Woodard, Carlos Lara, Martin Mehner, Johnny Quarles, Marshall Cooper, Dan Rich and Members of the Helping Hands Sunday School.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com for the Nail family.
