Jim Cruthirds

1943 - 2024

Jim Cruthirds, youngest of "Ola's boys," died October 15, 2024. Before a series of serious medical issues conspired against him, he had been active, living alone, and still enjoying going out to movies and to his beloved Memphis Tigers games, so we had counted on enjoying his company a while longer.

Born April 9, 1943, Jimmy Earl Cruthirds was the son of Frank Spencer and Ola Davis Cruthirds. The 1953 death of Frank left the family in difficult financial straits, an experience that instilled in Jimmy and his brothers Bill and Bobby a fierce desire to succeed in life. In 1961, Bill and Bobby began the first phase of their careers at Innkeepers Supply Company, a Holiday Inns subsidiary, and drafted Jimmy to join them there while he completed college at Memphis State.

But the entrepreneurial spirit was strong in these boys of humble beginnings, and in 1964, Jimmy and his brothers started Specialties, Inc., a wall accessory manufacturing company. They worked nights and weekends to get the business going, and Jimmy eventually left Innkeepers to work fulltime running the family business (Bill and Bobby did likewise later). In 1970 they founded House of Cruthirds, providing custom millwork for the hospitality industry. In 1972 they moved both businesses to Olive Branch, Mississippi, and later merged them into Unicorn International, Inc., which became one of the nation's largest hospitality furnishings, design and engineering companies.

In 1993, Jimmy began a second career working for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education, where he retired in 2023. As Equipment Operations Manager in the Nutrition Services Department, he managed a team that kept all the school kitchens up and running. He was widely appreciated by his staff as a fair and generous boss.

An outstanding athlete from an early age, Jimmy led teams at both Guthrie Elementary and Humes High School to city championships in baseball, football and basketball. He was actively recruited by several colleges and came close to winning a full football scholarship at LSU, but a back injury his junior year derailed those dreams. He later admitted it was probably for the best, as he had suffered a number of concussions in high school and in light of recent research, felt he dodged the bullet of more serious consequences by not playing college ball. Still, it was a bitter disappointment at the time.

But high school was not the end of Jimmy's athletic career. He continued to play softball and touch football through the 1970s on the family-business-sponsored teams that won numerous city amateur athletic championships. In ¬¬¬1981 he was inducted into the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame for football.

At Guthrie Park one bright late-1950s summer day, Jimmy spotted a beautiful blonde park commissioner, Marilyn Word. He later said he decided pretty much on the spot that she was "the one." At first the feeling was not mutual, but determined wooing won her over. They dated throughout college and married the same day Jimmy graduated in May of 1965. They had been married 58 years at the time of her death in February of 2023.

Jimmy was beloved "Poppy" to his grandkids and he loved to spoil them. He never missed their sporting events, gave generously towards trips or fun activities, and always had ice cream to share. Most Saturdays when they were young, he loved to enjoy a bowl of chili at Bogie's with the family and treat the grandkids to whatever they'd like. He fostered their love for learning, numbers, and sports, but most importantly never let them forget that he was on their team.

Jimmy is survived by his daughter Cristan Billions and her husband Jeff, and their children Courtney, Caroline Billions Brown (Clayton), and Andrew; son Curt Cruthirds and his children Kate Brister (Jake), Cole (Sarah Kate), and Quin; and Kate's children Lilly and Rollins. He also leaves his sister, Beverly Cruthirds, and in-laws and nieces and nephews who loved him.

The family has entrusted Genesis Legacy Foundation with Jimmy's final journey.

They would appreciate any donations in his memory be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

There may be a memorial gathering honoring both Jimmy and Marilyn at a later date. In the meantime, cheer on the Tigers and think of Jimmy.