Lt. Col. (USAF, Ret.) James A. “Bo” Grimshaw passed away on Sunday, 8 April 2018. An accomplished professor and scholar, beloved father and husband, Bo will be remembered for his unwavering faith, friendship and what many describe as an inner peace.
Born 10 December 1940 to James A. and Maurine Haley Grimshaw in Kingsville, Texas, Bo attended Paschal High School in Fort Worth, graduated from Texas Tech with a master’s degree. He married Darlene “Dee” Hargett Grimshaw in June 1961, was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force in 1962 and went on active duty in 1963. Bo served in Saigon, Vietnam, and was assigned to several other posts before being stationed at the USAF Academy. He was sent by the Air Force to LSU to earn his PhD and returned to the Air Force Academy where he was tenured on the faculty until his retirement from the Air Force in 1983.
Bo and Dee returned to Texas in August 1983, and Bo became Professor and Head of Literature and Languages at East Texas State University (Texas A&M - Commerce). He retired from Texas A&M in August 2005, and focused on writing, editing and research. In 2006, Dee and Bo moved to the Army Resident Community in San Antonio leaving behind a gentleman’s farm that at various times was home to bison, horses, calves, chickens, peacocks, dogs, cats and a pig that inspired Bo in much of his creative writing.
He earned numerous awards and honors during his 35-year teaching career including the Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, Honors Professor of the Year, Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Award, Texas A&M University System Regents Professor Service Award, and Professor Emeritus. He was committed to his students, many of who stayed in touch with him and shared their successes long after graduation.
Bo was a board member of the Advisory Group of the Center for Robert Penn Warren Studies at Western Kentucky University for many years, and was named an Honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was honored to have developed a friendship with the Warren family that contributed to his appreciation for the author, which is evident in his published works. In later years he focused on teaching Southern literature, bibliography, and ethics. During his distinguished academic career, Bo edited or wrote 12 books, contributed to eight books by others, wrote and published poetry, numerous articles and book reviews, and presented 91 papers. He left two manuscripts awaiting publication, and was doing active research on 10 others.
An avid reader, Bo enjoyed discussing books. His son Jim remembers leafing through Bo’s teaching library and reading the extensive notes jotted throughout the margins. Bo was a natural teacher and born leader, whose life-long friends talk of how he guided them through high school, college and the many trials and tribulations they faced.
Bo lived with side effects from two bouts of cancer for 31 years and bore those trials, which later in life became debilitating, with dignity and grace. He was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Courtney Grimshaw Fowler on 28 May, 2010. Bo is survived by his wife, Dee, of 57 years; his son, James A. Grimshaw, IV and his wife, Heather Grimshaw of Golden, Colorado; and one cousin, Mary Sue Betts of Fort Worth.
A memorial service will be held Friday, 11 May at 1:30 in the Cheever Chapel at the Army Residence Community with a reception following in the Resident Lounge.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Grimshaw Family Equine Therapy Program at TAMU. Donations can be made online (http://give.am/CourtneyCares) to the Courtney Cares Endowed Excellence Fund in memory of Lt. Col. James A. 'Bo' Grimshaw. Checks may be made to the Texas A&M Foundation with the memo: Courtney Cares Endowed Excellence Fund in memory of Lt. Col. James A. Grimshaw and mailed to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Office of Development, c/o Courtney Cares, 4461 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843-4461.
