Jaime Ground

Jaime (Jimmy) Arturo Ground Velazquez passed away peacefully, Thursday December 19th, 2024, at his home in Fredericksburg, Texas. Jimmy was known for his big personality, smile, laugh, and presence, that would fill a large room. He was well know in his home town of Muzquiz, Coahuila for being a pillar in the community, providing free college education for his employees children, and supporting the public schools, as well as the Catholic Church. He had a big heart for people in need and helped everyone that he could. He was the best husband, father and grandfather, always doting, supporting, a true pillar of the whole family for his parents, brothers, and nephews.
Jimmy was a graduate of the University of Arizona, with a Mining Engineering Degree with Advanced Studies in Geology. Additionally, Jimmy graduated from the Executive Business Administration Program at Penn State University.
His career started at Continental Ore in 1968, later becoming Fluorita de Mexico, where he was Director of Exploration, and later General Manager of Buenavista Mining Project. At Fluorita de Mexico he was responsible for all exploration and development for future excavation plans, as well as being responsible for the daily operations of ore extraction.
In 1979, with the intentions of reducing the transportation costs of the mineral at Fluorita de Mexico, he made the decision to build a tunnel in the Buenavista mountain range, to access the mining operations of the Encantada in Coahuila. Jimmy was responsible for the design and building of this tunnel that is 960 meters long and is still being used today for operations.
In 1981 Jimmy was approached by Fluorita de Mexico to be the new General Director of the company. He turned down this opportunity, and later with the help of his father, Mr. Ernest Ground, founded their own fluorite flotation plant, called Minera Muzquiz, which is still in operation today, 42 years later.
In 1995 many mining companies in Mexico went bankrupt because of the Chinese competition, however, Minera Muzquiz survived, because of his extensive knowledge of the mineral flotation process he had an efficient operation. He also supported other companies in becoming more efficient. In 2010, because of his extensive Mining Engineering experience, and strong Chemistry and flotation knowledge, he collaborated with Mexichem Fluor, to redesigning their flotation plants, and work with the metallurgy of their minerals in the San Luis Potosi Plants. Jimmy was able to accomplish the raising of their recouperation percentage in their flotation process from 70% to 90%.
Jimmy was preceeded in Death by his Parents, Ernest Raymond Ground Carleton and Teresa Velazquez de Ground, and his two younger brothers, Arturo Ground Velazquez and Ernesto Reymundo Ground Velazquez. Jimmy is survived by his wife of 54 years, Maria Teresa Romo de Ground, son and daughter in law, Ernesto and Liz Ground, daughter and son in law, Teresa (Ground) and Mickey Dunn, 4 Grandchildren and 3 Great Grandchildren.
The family will receive receiving Friends for Visitation from 12 to 5 pm, December 20, at Schaetter Funeral Home. Funeral and Mass will be held In Muzquiz, Coahuila Mexico at a later date.
Arrangements are by the Schaetter Funeral Home
Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com