David James Jr.

David Randolph (D. R.) James, Jr.

El Dorado, AR

David Randolph (D.R.) James, Jr., 91, of El Dorado, Arkansas, passed away, following a long illness, on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the John R. Williamson Hospice House in El Dorado.

He was born in El Dorado on September 22, 1924 to the late, Randolph and Georgia Hughes James. He attended El Dorado public schools and graduated from the Gulf Coast Military Academy in 1943.

In 1943, D.R. volunteered to proudly serve our country by enlisting in the United States Army, graduating from Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, as a Lieutenant. He was assigned first to Fort Still, Oklahoma, and then shipped overseas for active combat in World War II.

D.R. served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. During his Army tenure, he received numerous awards for his distinguished military service. These awards included the Purple Heart for combat wounds, the Silver Star Medal for valor beyond the call of duty, and two Bronze Star Medals for his service while stationed in southern Germany. He was also awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for personal service fought in active ground combat.

He was transported by ship, along with 18,000 troops, from New York City to Glasgow, Scotland on the SS Ile de France. Crossing the English Channel, he landed in Le Havre, in the Normandy region of France to join the 4th division of the 22nd Infantry. While stationed in Europe, he engaged in wartime combat in France, Belgium, Austria, Holland, Germany and Luxembourg.

While in Germany, he fought in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, a series of fierce battles waged between October and December of 1944. He served 200 days on the battle line, including combat in the infamous Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, a turning point for the Allies in World War II.

D.R.'s combat in Europe was completed in April of 1945, with the fall of the Third Reich and the surrender by Germany. At this time, many troops serving in Europe were sent home to the United States to serve and continue training, while some soldiers qualified for discharge.

D.R. returned to the USA in May of 1945 to Camp Butner, North Carolina, and was directed by Army personnel to write the history of his unit, which he did with the help of an Army Chaplain. While at Camp Butner, he served as Division Historian and Assistant to the Chaplain of the 22nd Infantry from September 1945 to May 1946.

After escorting the acclaimed novelist Ernest Hemingway through war-torn Europe for several days, his service record was passed on to Hemingway to aid in his research for his planned book on the 22nd Infantry. D.R.'s distinguished service to the United States Army ended with his discharge as a Captain in May 1946.

Upon his return to civilian life, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas, from which he graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Business. While in college, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity as well as the honorary business fraternity, Beta Gamma Sigma. In 1947, D.R. James and Jean Callaway were married.

Service to his country and devotion to his family marked D.R.'s life. In 1949, he and wife Jean returned to El Dorado, where he began a successful career in the hotel and hospitality business. He would spend the next 65+ years of his life in his native El Dorado.

D.R. managed the Randolph Hotel in El Dorado, a fine hotel built by his grandfather and father, from 1949 to 1962. In 1960, while simultaneously continuing his work as Manager of the Randolph Hotel, he became an early Holiday Inn franchisee and built his first Holiday Inn Hotel at home in El Dorado. In subsequent years, he built and managed Holiday Inn Hotels in Texas (Big Spring, San Angelo, and Beaumont); Louisiana (New Orleans and New Iberia); and Arkansas (Benton). He also operated radio stations in Camden and Prescott, Arkansas, and the Muzak franchise in El Dorado.

He was extremely involved in various civic and charitable organizations during his many years in El Dorado. He served as President of the El Dorado Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1951-1952, Chairman of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce in 1958-1959, and President of the El Dorado Industrial Committee in 1961. He was nominated as Man of the Year in 1953 and was an active member of The Rotary Club from 1949 to 1969.

He was also a long-time member of First United Methodist Church, which he faithfully served as Chairman of the Administrative Board during the years 1969 to 1971.

During his long business career, he additionally served on the Board of the Exchange Bank (now Regions Bank) for 38 years. He also served on the boards of the Strong (Arkansas) Bank, the El Dorado Foundry and Machine Company, and Warner Brown Hospital, as well as serving as Secretary of the Petroleum Club. He additionally served on the El Dorado Water and Sewer Commission and the El Dorado Planning Commission.

In the 1980s, he served on the Board of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association. He endowed the James Family Accounting Scholarship Fund for students of South Arkansas Community College.

In 1980, Jean Callaway James died, leaving D.R. with two sons; and one grandson, Matt. In 1982, he married Jane Hutchinson Horne of Shreveport.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Randolph and Georgia Hughes James; his first wife, Jean Callaway James; and his stepson, Ed Horne.

Survivors include his wife, Jane James; two sons, William R. (Randy) James and his wife, Paula, of Jackson, Mississippi; and Richard K. (Dick) James and his wife, Anne, of El Dorado. Also surviving are five grandsons: Matt James (Lindsey); Chesley James (Hillary); and Ben James (Abby), all of Jackson; Dr. Andrew James (Chesha) of Lexington, Kentucky; and William James (Sarah) of Dallas, Texas. He is additionally survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Other survivors include a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Horne; and a stepson, Will Horne, both of Shreveport; as well as his sisters, Mary Dell Wren and Susan J. Christian; and a brother, Mark E. James.

Interment with military honors will be at held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Arlington Cemetery, 702 N. Mosby Avenue in El Dorado.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at First United Methodist Church, 201 South Hill Avenue in El Dorado, with the Reverend Keith Dodson officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the Church.

Pallbearers are his five grandsons: Matt, Andrew, Chesley, William, and Ben James; and his stepson, Will Horne.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 South Hill Avenue, El Dorado, AR, 71730; or to the South Arkansas Community College Foundation, 300 South West Avenue, El Dorado, AR, 71730; or to the John R. Williamson Hospice House, 2301 Champagnolle Road, El Dorado, AR, 71730.

The family wishes to express their extreme gratitude for the wonderful care and love that D.R. received in his final years from his special caregivers: Bobbie Hicks, Nell Kendrix, LaTasha Kendrix, Andrea Richardson, and Regina Harris. A very special thank-you is extended to caregiver, companion, and devoted friend, Joe McHenry.

An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.

D.R. James devoted his life to his country, his family, and his church. He will be greatly missed by the many people whose lives he touched over a long life well lived.