James Joseph Kearney Jr.

He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 7, 1943, to James J. Kearney Sr. and Kathleen Rice Kearney.

Jim attended St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, where he excelled in academics and athletics. He won the New Jersey State Championship in shot put and discus. He also won numerous weightlifting championships while still in high school and later came in third while trying out for the Olympics. He played football, basketball, and excelled in track and field, weightlifting, and rowing. He was an all-around athlete.

Jim was granted a full-ride football scholarship to Michigan State. After the death of his father, he returned to New Jersey and attended St. Peter's University and Fordham University.

Jim earned a master's from the University of Missouri while on a ROTC scholarship and a Master of Arts from the University of London, having received a Rockefeller fellowship.

Finally, he earned a PhD from the University of Missouri. He played the stock market with great interest and little money. At Columbia, Missouri, he met the love of his life, Kina Johnson. They were happily married for 55 years. Following school, Jim entered the army and served as a captain until his honorable discharge in 1970.

He began his career as a stockbroker and investment banker in Houston, serving as Senior Vice President of S.G. Cowen and Co., where he worked for 26 years. He was then employed by Robert W. Baird & Co. and finally retired from Raymond James in 2017. Jim loved banking and was privileged to meet George Martinez early in their careers. Jim served on the Board of Directors for Sterling Bank, Sterling Bancshares, and Allegiance Bank with George.

He also served on the Board of First Community Bank of Fort Bend. Jim’s favorite organization was the Dominican Sisters Board, where he was a member and served on the Investment Advisory Committee for the Sacred Heart Convent Retirement Trust.

Jim always rooted for the underdog and enjoyed working with diverse clients.

He was intelligent, athletic, kind, and funny, and determined. He looked like Clark Kent, loved dogs, and enjoyed traveling. Jim loved his family and was immensely proud of his daughter, Kara, and all her accomplishments. He was Pop-Pop to his granddaughter Ava, whom he loved dearly, and was devoted to his wife Kina.

He will be deeply missed.

Jim was predeceased by his mother Kathleen Rice Kearney and father James J. Kearney Sr. He is survived by his wife Kina Kearney, daughter Kara Elsik (Alex Elsik), and granddaughter Ava Elsik, as well as his sister Alice Holl.