James Bruce Bugg Jr.

1954 - 2025

James Bruce Bugg, Jr.
October 29, 1954 - August 6, 2025
James Bruce Bugg, Jr., a pillar of the San Antonio community, passed away August 6, 2025 due to complications from surgery after a private battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Bruce was born in Springfield, Missouri, on October 29, 1954, to Jim and Norma Bugg and adoring sister Diana.

At an age when peers were reading comic books, Bruce read the Wall Street Journal every morning, and he developed a passion for finance and stock trading.

In high school, at age 15, Bruce began his long career in banking by working in the mailroom of Commerce Bank in Springfield, learning about the different parts of the business as he delivered mail. A longtime participant in Boy Scouts of America, at 17, Bruce attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was proud of the fact that both of his sons, under his guidance, also became Eagle Scouts.

He attended SMU in Dallas, where he received an undergraduate degree in business and a Juris Doctor. In 1979, Bruce made the move to San Antonio to establish the tax division at the law firm of Groce, Locke & Hebdon.

Never one to coast on prior success, Bruce started a bank holding company in 1983 at the age of 29 and brought together a group of investors to buy The Bank of San Antonio. In 1986, Bruce launched his own solo law practice, providing tax guidance to important figures in the San Antonio community such as Quincy Lee and Robert L.B. Tobin.

In 1995, at age 41, Bruce sold the Bank of San Antonio and retired from law practice.

In 1999, his former client Robert L.B. Tobin entrusted Bruce and fellow attorney Leroy Denman to oversee his estate and the formation of the Tobin Endowment. Under Bruce's leadership, the Tobin Endowment has been a major supporter of organizations championed by Tobin during his lifetime, including the McNay Art Museum, where Bruce served as Trustee, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio Youth Literacy, and the Santa Fe Opera, where Bruce served on the Board for over 20 years.

A man of vision with an immense love for the San Antonio community, Bruce found success in both the public and private sectors. He founded Texas Partners Bank in 2007, and in addition co-founded the Bexar County Performing Arts Center and the Tobin Center for Performing Arts with former Mayor Phil Hardberger and former County Judge Nelson Wolff. During the 2020 pandemic, he co-founded Community Labs with Graham Weston and Tullos Wells to provide free Covid testing.

Bruce brought his unbounded energy, pragmatic leadership, and strategic thinking to every role he took on. He was especially proud of his years of public service to the State of Texas, most notably having been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Department of Transportation Commission, where he served for 10 years, including 8 years as Chairman. Before TxDOT, Bruce was appointed by Governor Rick Perry as Chairman and President of the Texas Economic Development Corporation and as appointee to the Board of Directors of Humanities Texas.

Throughout all of his endeavors, Bruce's life was driven by his passion for people and a desire to develop relationships wherever he went. He was also a man of strong faith, and a member of First Presbyterian Church San Antonio.

In his spare time, Bruce loved to travel, especially with his family to the South of France, and to his ranch in Bandera, Texas, where he spent most weekends with a good glass of champagne, watching the sunset and listening to opera. Bruce was a proud member of the Argyle Club, the San Antonio Country Club, Club Giraud, the San Antonio German Club, the Bohemian Club, and the Pacific Union Club.

Bruce is survived by his proud and loving family: his wife of 34 years, Alethea; and his two sons, James Bruce Bugg III (Jim) and Thomas Andrew Bugg (Tom); his sister, Diana and her husband, Jim Bertlesman of Sonoma, CA; his cousins, Susie and David Turner of Springfield, MO; brothers in law Tod Swann and wife Laura of Waco, TX, and Andy Swann and wife Rosemary of Tyler, TX.

He will be missed by his many friends and the San Antonio community.

A memorial will be held for Bruce at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 20th, at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Officiated by Rev. Dr. Bob Fuller of First Presbyterian Church. He will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin in a private family ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, First Presbyterian Church San Antonio, or the charity of your choice.