Jim Walker was born and raised in West Texas in Lamesa and Pecos. With the exception of his Air Force service and a long visit to Louisiana, he has lived in Texas his entire life. After he married, Jim moved east and settled for 10 years in Dallas, where he was present at one of the most historically significant events of the century.
Jim was living in Dallas in 1963 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As a member of the crowd, he was on the parade route standing just one and a half blocks from the spot where Kennedy was shot. Always an avid photographer, Jim took pictures of the motorcade and the President as he passed within just a few feet. Snapping eleven pictures of the parade, Kennedy and several of the sites after the shooting, he captured the President in the last moments of his life. Jim’s pictures have been donated to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza in Dallas where two of them are in a current display. His photograph of the Texas Theater, was the only image taken of the theater on the day of the shooting and is for sale in the Museum gift shop. It is the only photograph in their collection ever offered for sale.
While in Dallas, Jim began working as an independent Iceman, delivering ice to grocery stores and new development. He eventually moved to Conroe and continued his ice business for several years before he went to work for Gulf States Utilities (now Entergy) and stayed twenty one years until his retirement in 2002. His position with GSU was as warehouse Store Keeper where his responsibilities required that he maintain, supply and anticipate all equipment needed for expected disasters as well as expansive community development.
Jim showed an avid interest in the history and culture of Texas, especially the Texas Revolution from an early age. Retirement has afforded him the opportunity to visit every major battle site in the Texas Revolution and meet some very interesting authors and historians. Jim’s particular area of expertise is Goliad and the Goliad Massacre. “I consider this area of Texas History to be the best kept secret in the Texas Revolution.” Each March, the Presidio La Bahia puts on a reenactment of that historic event when three hundred and forty-two Texans died in a revenge killing under the orders of the dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Since 2002, Jim has assisted the director of the Presidio to put on that event. He is a past member of the Advisory board which helped redesign and upgrade the museum. Jim now gives historical presentations to seventh graders and civic groups on the Goliad Massacre. He is honored to be accepted as a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas.
As a past Board President and board member of the Crighton Players since 1976, Jim has been an active participant with the Crighton and Owen Theatres. He has been involved with approximately 100 plays both onstage and off and nominated for a Montie award. Since his directorial debut in 1991, he has directed over twenty plays. Jim was bestowed the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Jim is the Vice-President of the Friends of the Flag Foundation, a member of the Montgomery County Historical Commission, past Board member of the Conroe Arts Commission as well as Big Brothers-Big Sisters. He feels his particular job with the Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park has been historical accuracy – selecting which flags to fly and why. He also maintains all thirteen flags through inspection and inventory.
