James Lear Jr.
James H. "Jimmy" Lear, Jr.
Oxford
James Hamilton "Jimmy" Lear Jr. died Monday, January 12, 2015 in Oxford, MS. He was born May 14, 1931 in Greenwood, MS, the son of the late, Sarah Martin Smith and James Hamilton Lear. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy graduated from Greenwood High School in 1949 where he excelled in all sports, receiving a football scholarship to Ole Miss. As a quarterback, he was recognized as an All-American in 1952, earning All-SEC honors in 1951 and 1952. He led the Rebels to an undefeated season in 1952, and a Sugar Bowl bid. Additionally, he lettered in track and field, baseball and golf. Jimmy was elected Colonel Rebel and inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, awarded the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation, and named to the SEC Legend Class of 2009. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He served two years in the Air Force becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jimmy married Joanne Gee Lucas of Greenwood in 1954. They moved to Indianola, where they became active members in both the community and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. He served as a lay reader, Junior and Senior Wardens, and a member of the diocesan executive committee. Jimmy was a past president of the Indianola Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. As an avid supporter and board member of the Bologna Performing Arts Center he was awarded the prestigious President's Award. He was actively involved in the Mid Delta Arts Association in Indianola as both an actor and board member.
Upon moving to Indianola, Jimmy was the plant manager of the Ludlow Manufacturing plant. He later became headmaster of Indianola Academy and served the school system for 9 years, where he was known as a caring mentor to students and faculty. He then joined Maxwell Cotton Co. as a partner and owner and was also involved in the catfish industry as a partner in McLeawell Catfish Farms. Most recently he owned and operated his own cotton brokerage business in downtown Indianola with his son, Jim.
He is survived by his much beloved wife of 60 years, Joanne, and three children; Annette Lear Watson of Oxford, Elizabeth Lear McCarty of Indianola and James Hamilton Lear III and his wife, Jacqui of Oxford, together with six grandchildren, John Watson, Anna Watson, Elissa Lear McCarty Oliver and husband, Jackson, Lucas McCarty, Jordan Lear and James Lear, his sister, Sarah Lear Baird of Memphis, and brother-in-law, John Fair Lucas Jr. of Greenwood.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Indianola, MS at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Giulianna C. Gray officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the Parish Hall. Memorials in Mr. Lear's memory may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1004, Indianola, MS 38751 or Indianola Academy, 549 Dorsett Drive, Indianola, MS 38751.
Information from Waller Funeral Home
James H. "Jimmy" Lear, Jr.
Oxford
James Hamilton "Jimmy" Lear Jr. died Monday, January 12, 2015 in Oxford, MS. He was born May 14, 1931 in Greenwood, MS, the son of the late, Sarah Martin Smith and James Hamilton Lear. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy graduated from Greenwood High School in 1949 where he excelled in all sports, receiving a football scholarship to Ole Miss. As a quarterback, he was recognized as an All-American in 1952, earning All-SEC honors in 1951 and 1952. He led the Rebels to an undefeated season in 1952, and a Sugar Bowl bid. Additionally, he lettered in track and field, baseball and golf. Jimmy was elected Colonel Rebel and inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, awarded the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation, and named to the SEC Legend Class of 2009. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He served two years in the Air Force becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jimmy married Joanne Gee Lucas of Greenwood in 1954. They moved to Indianola, where they became active members in both the community and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. He served as a lay reader, Junior and Senior Wardens, and a member of the diocesan executive committee. Jimmy was a past president of the Indianola Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. As an avid supporter and board member of the Bologna Performing Arts Center he was awarded the prestigious President's Award. He was actively involved in the Mid Delta Arts Association in Indianola as both an actor and board member.
Upon moving to Indianola, Jimmy was the plant manager of the Ludlow Manufacturing plant. He later became headmaster of Indianola Academy and served the school system for 9 years, where he was known as a caring mentor to students and faculty. He then joined Maxwell Cotton Co. as a partner and owner and was also involved in the catfish industry as a partner in McLeawell Catfish Farms. Most recently he owned and operated his own cotton brokerage business in downtown Indianola with his son, Jim.
He is survived by his much beloved wife of 60 years, Joanne, and three children; Annette Lear Watson of Oxford, Elizabeth Lear McCarty of Indianola and James Hamilton Lear III and his wife, Jacqui of Oxford, together with six grandchildren, John Watson, Anna Watson, Elissa Lear McCarty Oliver and husband, Jackson, Lucas McCarty, Jordan Lear and James Lear, his sister, Sarah Lear Baird of Memphis, and brother-in-law, John Fair Lucas Jr. of Greenwood.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Indianola, MS at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Giulianna C. Gray officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the Parish Hall. Memorials in Mr. Lear's memory may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1004, Indianola, MS 38751 or Indianola Academy, 549 Dorsett Drive, Indianola, MS 38751.
Information from Waller Funeral Home
James Lear Jr.
James H. "Jimmy" Lear, Jr.
Oxford
James Hamilton "Jimmy" Lear Jr. died Monday, January 12, 2015 in Oxford, MS. He was born May 14, 1931 in Greenwood, MS, the son of the late, Sarah Martin Smith and James Hamilton Lear. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy graduated from Greenwood High School in 1949 where he excelled in all sports, receiving a football scholarship to Ole Miss. As a quarterback, he was recognized as an All-American in 1952, earning All-SEC honors in 1951 and 1952. He led the Rebels to an undefeated season in 1952, and a Sugar Bowl bid. Additionally, he lettered in track and field, baseball and golf. Jimmy was elected Colonel Rebel and inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, awarded the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation, and named to the SEC Legend Class of 2009. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He served two years in the Air Force becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jimmy married Joanne Gee Lucas of Greenwood in 1954. They moved to Indianola, where they became active members in both the community and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. He served as a lay reader, Junior and Senior Wardens, and a member of the diocesan executive committee. Jimmy was a past president of the Indianola Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. As an avid supporter and board member of the Bologna Performing Arts Center he was awarded the prestigious President's Award. He was actively involved in the Mid Delta Arts Association in Indianola as both an actor and board member.
Upon moving to Indianola, Jimmy was the plant manager of the Ludlow Manufacturing plant. He later became headmaster of Indianola Academy and served the school system for 9 years, where he was known as a caring mentor to students and faculty. He then joined Maxwell Cotton Co. as a partner and owner and was also involved in the catfish industry as a partner in McLeawell Catfish Farms. Most recently he owned and operated his own cotton brokerage business in downtown Indianola with his son, Jim.
He is survived by his much beloved wife of 60 years, Joanne, and three children; Annette Lear Watson of Oxford, Elizabeth Lear McCarty of Indianola and James Hamilton Lear III and his wife, Jacqui of Oxford, together with six grandchildren, John Watson, Anna Watson, Elissa Lear McCarty Oliver and husband, Jackson, Lucas McCarty, Jordan Lear and James Lear, his sister, Sarah Lear Baird of Memphis, and brother-in-law, John Fair Lucas Jr. of Greenwood.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Indianola, MS at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Giulianna C. Gray officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the Parish Hall. Memorials in Mr. Lear's memory may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1004, Indianola, MS 38751 or Indianola Academy, 549 Dorsett Drive, Indianola, MS 38751.
Information from Waller Funeral Home
James H. "Jimmy" Lear, Jr.
Oxford
James Hamilton "Jimmy" Lear Jr. died Monday, January 12, 2015 in Oxford, MS. He was born May 14, 1931 in Greenwood, MS, the son of the late, Sarah Martin Smith and James Hamilton Lear. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy graduated from Greenwood High School in 1949 where he excelled in all sports, receiving a football scholarship to Ole Miss. As a quarterback, he was recognized as an All-American in 1952, earning All-SEC honors in 1951 and 1952. He led the Rebels to an undefeated season in 1952, and a Sugar Bowl bid. Additionally, he lettered in track and field, baseball and golf. Jimmy was elected Colonel Rebel and inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, awarded the Distinguished American Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the National Football Foundation, and named to the SEC Legend Class of 2009. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He served two years in the Air Force becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.
Jimmy married Joanne Gee Lucas of Greenwood in 1954. They moved to Indianola, where they became active members in both the community and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. He served as a lay reader, Junior and Senior Wardens, and a member of the diocesan executive committee. Jimmy was a past president of the Indianola Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. As an avid supporter and board member of the Bologna Performing Arts Center he was awarded the prestigious President's Award. He was actively involved in the Mid Delta Arts Association in Indianola as both an actor and board member.
Upon moving to Indianola, Jimmy was the plant manager of the Ludlow Manufacturing plant. He later became headmaster of Indianola Academy and served the school system for 9 years, where he was known as a caring mentor to students and faculty. He then joined Maxwell Cotton Co. as a partner and owner and was also involved in the catfish industry as a partner in McLeawell Catfish Farms. Most recently he owned and operated his own cotton brokerage business in downtown Indianola with his son, Jim.
He is survived by his much beloved wife of 60 years, Joanne, and three children; Annette Lear Watson of Oxford, Elizabeth Lear McCarty of Indianola and James Hamilton Lear III and his wife, Jacqui of Oxford, together with six grandchildren, John Watson, Anna Watson, Elissa Lear McCarty Oliver and husband, Jackson, Lucas McCarty, Jordan Lear and James Lear, his sister, Sarah Lear Baird of Memphis, and brother-in-law, John Fair Lucas Jr. of Greenwood.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, January 16, 2015, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Indianola, MS at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Giulianna C. Gray officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the Parish Hall. Memorials in Mr. Lear's memory may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1004, Indianola, MS 38751 or Indianola Academy, 549 Dorsett Drive, Indianola, MS 38751.
Information from Waller Funeral Home
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