Dr. James H. Boren

Dr. James H. Boren of Whitesboro, Texas passed away April 24, 2010 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He was born in the Methodist parsonage in Wheatland, Oklahoma on Dec. 10, 1925 to James B. and Una Lee Boren. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 AM Wednesday April 28, 2010 in the Green Country Funeral Home Chapel. His family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday evening April 27th. Online condolences may be left at tahlequahfuneral.com. Interment will follow in the Ft. Gibson National Cemetery.
During WWII Boren joined the Navy at the age of 17, and served on the Destroyer Escort the William C. Cole. His ship was in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 where it came under attack by three Japanese kamikazes.
After the war, Jim completed his Bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Austin. He later married his high school sweetheart, Irene Cheek. Two sons Richard and Stan were born of this union. From 1950-52, Jim taught at Oxnard Union H.S. in Oxnard, California. During his stint in Oxnard, Jim also earned a Master's degree at Cal State at Long Beach and a Master's at the University of Southern California. Later, Jim returned to the University of Texas to earn his PhD.
Jim taught at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1954 and in 1957, became the statewide campaign manager for Ralph Yarborough for the U.S. Senate from Texas. Following Yarborough's successful race, Boren became his Chief of Staff for 4 years. During this time, they achieved the passage of some major legislation including the National Defense Education Act, the Cold War G I Bill, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Padre Island National Seashore, and the Mental Health Bill.
Boren was actively involved in the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy and in 1961, he was appointed Deputy Director of the U.S. Economic Mission to Peru. He became the operations man for the mission and oversaw the development programs in education, criminal justice and agriculture. Boren quickly became fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. During his extensive travels throughout Peru, he conceived the idea for the Partners of the Alliance, which brought together private sectors of the U.S. and Latin America in a grass-roots people-oriented program. President Kennedy approved Boren's idea, and Jim spent the next 7 years translating these programs into a successful hemispheric effort to help build schools, equip hospitals, assist with potable water systems, and other economic development projects. He received the government's meritorious Honor Medal for his work in Latin America. The program continues today as the Partners of the Americas.
After leaving government service, Jim began his work as a reformer of bureaucracy through the use of humor and political satire. Boren formed a spoof organization called the International Association of Professional Bureaucrats. He was in great demand as a professional speaker and was the author of seven books, the most famous of which was When in Doubt Mumble. In 1991 Jim became a Scholar-in-Residence at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. where he met and married his present wife Norma Williams, a teacher at Tahlequah High School.
Jim was the Oklahoma Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996 but was defeated by Jim Inhofe.
Jim is survived by his wife Norma of the home; his son Richard of Denton, Texas; his son Stan and wife Cathie of Sevierville, Tennessee; step-son James Williams and his wife Angela of Tahlequah; step-son John Williams and his wife Cynthia of Paris, Texas; a brother Gene Boren and his wife Nell of North Richland Hills, Texas; a sister Marilyn Boren of St. Augustine, Florida; brother-in-law Ray Eubanks and wife Betty of Muskogee, OK.; grand-daughters: Catie Holly of Knoxville, Tennessee; Gail Rosson and her husband Alex of Sand Springs, OK.; Jordan Williams of Paris, TX.; Elizabeth O'Bryan of Muskogee, OK.; grandsons Todd Boren and his wife Brandy of Knoxville, TN.; Derek Williams of Paris, TN.; and Emmett Williams of Tahlequah, OK.; four great-grandchildren; Ulana, Logan, Cay Holly and McKenlee Boren of Knoxville, TN.; plus many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.