Jim is a native Texan having lived in Texas all his life.  He was born in Longview, attended one year at Kilgore Junior College and then transferred to Baylor University in Waco where he obtained his BBA degree and later his JD degree from the Baylor University School of Law.  Jim has always concentrated on real estate law.  First at a law firm in Dallas, then as a principal in a small land title company in Lewisville, Texas.  Jim then became vice president and underwriting counsel for a large title company in Dallas.  Jim and his family moved to Austin in 1989 and Jim went to work for the Texas Department of Transportation as a right of way attorney.  He progressed to Deputy Director and Interim Director of the Right of Way Division for TxDOT.  In 2000 he left state employment and joined a right of way consulting firm which was later purchased in 2015 by a larger company.  Jim is now retired from full time employment. 

Jim is the first in his family to be a Rotarian, having joined the Northwest Austin club in 1990.  Jim is a very active member of the club having held numerous offices including President, President Elect, Vice President of Community Service, Club Service, International Service and Vocational Service and served on the club’s Past Presidents Council.  He is a Rotary Benefactor, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor.  He remains very active in supporting all of the clubs projects throughout the community. 

At the district level, Jim served as an Assistant Governor for four years from 2013 thru 2017.  Jim also served on the district membership committee, concentrating on membership retention.  Jim’s passion in Rotary is membership; not just obtaining new members but obtaining and retaining Rotarians.