James Hill "Blackie" Holmes III

1935 - 2014

HOLMES, III, James Hill "Blackie" James passed away on October 8, 2014 at Baylor Heart Hospital, Dallas. Born on September 10, 1935, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was the son of Celia Lindsay Wearn of Raleigh, N.C. and Houston Eccleston Holmes of Charleston, S.C. who predeceased him. At one year his family moved to Dallas. In 1941, his parents purchased the house on Lovers Lane which remained his residence until his death. He attended Mother Goose Kindergarten where in the class play he was the judge and, ironically, he became a lawyer and practiced his whole career of 52 years with Burford and Ryburn. He attended elementary school at University Park and graduated from Highland Park High School in the class of January 1953. During his teenage years, he was a camper and counselor at Camp Longhorn on Inks Lake and helped plant the grass and build the girl's swimming bay which his children and family members have enjoyed. The wonderful camp memories were many and the structure he received for later life was solid. He met dear friends both campers and counselors. While a camper, he was recognized as Best Camper and as a counselor he was voted Most Popular Counselor. When he graduated from Highland Park, he was vice president of his class of 93 students. He enrolled in SMU and pledged Phi Delta Theta with 8 others from his class, known as the "Nasty Nine". He had many fond memories of being a Phi, including being a member of the fraternity swimming team. At the end of competition he was asked by Coach "Red" Barr to walk on as a member of the SMU swimming team. He lettered in swimming in 1957. After the season Coach Barr told him "faint heart never won nothing" and he carried those words all his life. At SMU he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and was honored as a distinguished military student and upon graduation a distinguished military graduate. He entered SMU Law School in l957 and during that time was elected the law school representative to the SMU Student Council. On graduation from SMU law school he entered the Judge Advocate General Department of the Air Force and was stationed at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas for 3 years. He received a letter of commendation from the base Commander for the performance of his legal duties. It was at the end of his tour of duty in June of 1962 that he was confronted with a life changing experience when he met his devoted and wonderful wife-to-be at the altar of Saint John the Divine Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas when he and Judy Ryman were attendants in the wedding of his good friend, Willis Tate, Jr. It was love at first sight. James was discharged from the Air Force in 1962 and he and Judy were married on August 17, 1963 in Lufkin, Texas.James had a long and delightful career as a lawyer. He began his civil practice with the law firm of Burford, Ryburn and Ford in Dallas and remained there until the day of his death. He specialized in civil defense litigation and tried cases in many of the state and federal courts in Texas. He was viewed by his colleagues as a worthy opponent and once was referred to by an outstanding plaintiff's lawyer as "the baby faced assassin". He made every attempt to treat everybody with whom he came in contact with civility, graciousness and respect. He was recognized for his professional endeavors when he was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates and Patrick Higginbotham Inn of Court. He was inducted as a Legal Legend by the Litigation Council of the State Bar of Texas, and as a Trial Legend in the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the Dallas Bar Association. He was honored when elected President of Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Dallas Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates and Dallas Association of Defense Counsel. James was very active in working with all lawyers to enhance civility and professionalism in the legal profession. He was very proud of the fact that he was co-author of the Texas Lawyer's Creed and promulgated the Dallas Lawyer's Creed and Guidelines for Professional Courtesy. He spoke at many seminars and gatherings on the creed and professionalism in Texas and never turned down an opportunity to deliver his message in hastening the demise of the Rambo style of handling litigation. For his efforts he received the Morris Harrell Award given by the Dallas Bar Association and the Lola Wright Award given by the Texas Bar Foundation and the TADC Award for Preservation of Civil Justice and the Founders Award. As a trial lawyer he was recipient of Texas ABOTA'S Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. In 2014, the Dallas Chapter of ABOTA established "The Blackie Holmes Award" for dedication to the legal system, civil justice and the preservation of the right to trial by jury. He was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Awards from Highland Park High School 2014, SMU 2012 and SMU Dedman School of Law 2004. He was a member of The Salesmanship Club of Dallas and the Dallas Country Club. In an effort to give back to his city, he served on many committees, as a council member for eight years and Mayor of University Park for 6 years. During his tenure as mayor, his proudest achievement was facilitating the location of the George W. Bush Library on the SMU campus. On his retirement as Mayor the city council honored him by naming the University Park Swimming Pool the Holmes Aquatic Center. He loved to spend time with his family at the beach on Sullivans Island, S.C. where they enjoyed some of the best days of their lives for over thirty years.He had many fond memories with Judy's family in Wimberley, Texas. He always said he hoped he could live to see his grandson, Randell Robert Holmes, graduate from high school during which time he would have seen academic and sports excellence from a totally deaf person who had a humble heart and sweet spirit.James was absolutely devoted to his sweetheart of a wife, Judy, who he often said, with the help of the good Lord, kept him going for the years he did enjoy. He is survived by his wife, Judy, of 51 years, brother, Houston E. Holmes, Jr. and wife Sally; sons, James Hill Holmes, IV. (Jimmy) (Susan) and granddaughters, Lane Souerbry Holmes and Dickinson Souerbry Holmes; Randell Ryman Holmes (Lori); grandson Randell Robert Holmes; Tucker Malone Holmes (Anne); three nephews, Houston E. Holmes, III., (Sheila) Robert C. Holmes, (Charlyn) and Blake R. Holmes (Rebecca). His brother in law Eldridge Dickinson "Dick" Ryman predeceased him. Visitation Thursday, October 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest. Memorial service on Monday, October 20, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave., Dallas, Texas with a reception following at the church. Memorials to Baylor Health Care System Foundation, 3600 Gaston Ave. Barnett Tower #100, Dallas, Texas 75246 or the charity of your choice. Shuttle buses along McKinney Ave. and Cole Ave. will assist with parking for the memorial service.