Dr. James Hester

Dr. James J. Hester, 84, Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado-Boulder, passed away from pancreatic cancer. James Jean Hester was born in Anthony, Kansas to Simon Frederick Hester and Ada Smith Hester. He grew up in Anthony with his one brother Jack, and graduated in 1949 from Anthony High School. He attended the University of New Mexico where he discovered his love for the Southwest. After receiving his Bachelor degree in 1953 from the University of New Mexico, Jim served his country in the U.S. Air Force. While he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington, he met Adrienne Arlene Davis of Toledo, Washington, who was attending the Columbus Hospital School of Nursing and Seattle University. Jim and Adrienne were married October 1, 1955 at McCord Air Force Base in Tacoma. Following his marriage to Adrienne, Jim pursued anthropology graduate studies at Mexico City College. Once back in the U.S., Jim earned a Ph.D. in Archaeology from the University of Arizona in 1961. The Hester family then settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Jim was employed by the Museum of NM. Once again, he moved his family out of the U.S. to Cairo, Egypt. From 1963 to 1965, he worked for the Egyptian government on historical archaeology surveys in preparation for construction of the Aswan High Dam. In 1967, he accepted a faculty position with the University of Colorado-Boulder Anthropology Department and moved his family to Boulder. During his academic career, Jim and Adrienne spent several sabbatical years abroad in British Columbia Canada, England, and Cyprus. He retired from CU-Boulder as an Anthropology Professor in 1991. His academic research publications include eighty scientific journal articles, eight scientific monographs, two college archaeology textbooks, as well as leading archaeological research expeditions in Alaska, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, and Saudi Arabia. He served as the State Archaeologist of Colorado and on the President's Advisory Council for Historic Preservation. Jim was a member of the American Archaeology Society, Colorado Archaeological Society, and the Explorers Club. Growing up in Kansas, Jim developed a passion for hunting, fishing, and agriculture which he exhibited throughout his life by going salmon fishing in Canada, elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains, and even being a Colorado cattle rancher. During retirement, Jim and Adrienne continued to travel as Jim became a Destination Cruise Ship Lecturer enabling them to visit the Far East, Caribbean, and Australasia. Growing up during the Great Depression, Jim learned the value of the barter system and passed on his financial knowledge by publishing the personal money management books "Depression Proof Your Future" and "The Penny Capitalist." Jim's love of Southwestern art culminated in his collaboration with Native American Comanche artist, Rance Hood, in publishing the biography "Mystic Painter." During retirement, Jim returned to his Kansas country music disc jockey roots by being featured several times as a guest speaker on the Boulder KGNU "Honky Tonk Heroes" radio show. Jim's retirement included a return to New Mexico where he became involved with the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces helping to organize museum exhibits on Pancho Villa and building Hoover Dam. Jim is survived by his wife: Adrienne of Boulder, children: Michael Hester of Denver; Randy Hester and wife Wan of Bangkok, Thailand; and David Hester and wife Kathy of Lakewood, CO. He is also survived by brother, Jack of Bangkok, and by granddaughters Angie and Amy Hester in Thailand. Memorial donations can be made to the Institute for Historical Survey Foundation, P.O. Box 36, Mesilla Park, NM, 88047. A memorial service is planned for 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 2nd, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder at 5001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303.