James Wesley Dr. Nixon, Jr.

James Wesley Nixon, Jr., MD, was born on February 24, 1924 in San Antonio, Texas, and died on July 7, 2009. He loved his family and friends unconditionally, and was legendary for his colorful personality and outspoken honesty. During his 50-year career as a surgeon, he always treated his patients with kindness and hundreds became lifelong friends.

He graduated from Texas Military Institute, the University of Texas at Austin, and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. During World War II, he served in the Pacific as a Lieutenant J.G. in the United States Navy, and skippered an LCI in the Philippines. He completed his surgical residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as first assistant to Dr. Charles Mayo, before returning to San Antonio to practice medicine with his father in 1958.

He had a deep passion for medicine; and over his long career he was a member of the Surgical Staff at Nix Medical Center, Santa Rosa Hospital, Southwest Texas Methodist Hospital, Baptist Medical Centers, Grace Lutheran Hospital former Chief of Staff, all in San Antonio, and Medina Memorial Hospital in Hondo, Texas.

He was the company physician for American, Braniff, Continental and Eastern Airlines, Knowltons Dairy, ButterCrust Bakery, Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific Railroads, Joske's Department Store, and Finesilver Manufacturing, and always was proud of his service as a special medical consultant to the FBI.

He enjoyed spending time on the family ranch, "operating" on old tractors and trucks to improve their life expectancies. Golf was also a big part of his life; sometimes he complained mightily about his game, but over his lifetime, he played with some of the best, and was so proud of his recent tournament win with his granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James William Nixon, MD, and Juliana Baker Nixon, his sister Juliana Nixon, and his son-in-law, Burk Ricks Wilson.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Angelica "Kiki" Poulos Nixon, his children Catherine Nixon Cooke, James Wesley Nixon III, William Campbell Nixon and wife Belinda, Julie Nixon Wilson, all of San Antonio, Texas, and Doria Pelias Latendorf, of Toronto, Canada; his grandchildren, Caroline Cooke Cage and husband Grady, Burk "Beau" Wilson, Jr., Juliana Wilson, William Campbell Nixon, Jr., Mary Catherine "Mae" Nixon, and James Henry Nixon, twin great-grandchildren Richard and Campbell Cage, all of San Antonio; sisters Linda Nixon Seeligson, of San Antonio, Patty Nixon Taliaferro and husband Scott of Abilene, and Polly Nixon Pater and husband Paul of Atlanta, Georgia, brother-in-law Sammy Poulos and his wife, Kalli of Athens, Greece, many wonderful nieces and nephews, cherished colleage Darlene Campbell, extended family Mati Posada, Diana Posada Zunker, and Gilberto Sanchez, and legions of friends of all ages who will miss him dearly. He was a member of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Royal Society of Medicine, a member of the Texas Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Bexar County Medical Society, and the American Association of Railroad Surgeons; and enjoyed social memberships in the Order of the Alamo, Texas Cavaliers, the German Club, the San Antonio Country Club and the Argyle.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make donations to Operation Comfort, 4900 Broadway Suite 400 San Antonio, TX 78209 or the charity of their choice.

A private service will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009.

There will be a reception at the San Antonio Country Club on July 10, 2009 at 11:00 A.M.