George William 'Billy' James Jr.

1932 - 2015

George William ""Billy"" James Jr. died Tuesday September 22, 2015, at North Louisiana Medical Center from heart failure. Billy was born in Ruston, La., on October 20, 1932, to George William (Bill) James and Sarah Ann (Tai) Bond. He graduated from LA Polytechnic Institute (LA Tech University) as a Civil Engineer in 1952. Billy is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 63 years, the former Evelyn Elaine Van Hook, of Ruston; their six children and spouses: Billy and Shai James of Metairie, David and Jeanne James of Baton Rouge, Mark and Alison James of Metairie, Bob and Lesley James of Ruston, Jeff and Mia James of Baton Rouge and Jim and Ginger Halford of Whitehouse, TX. He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren: Shannon Roberts and husband Marshall, Staci Kearney and Husband Dan, G.W. ""Will"" James IV; Sally, William and Carter James; Mark Jr., John, Paul and Peter James; Bobby, Shep and Hayes James; Catherine James; James and Jack Halford and two great grandchildren, Grayson and Reese Roberts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Sarah James, his brother Bobby James, and his grandson David M. James, Jr. Pallbearers will be Billy's thirteen (13) grandsons. Billy was well known around Ruston and LA Tech circles for his quick smile and his considerate nature for others. Billy was also well known in the construction business for his leadership of T.L. James & Company, one of the South's largest family owned construction businesses. He was a pioneer in the highway paving business helping to usher in the modern freeway and interstate highway system and led the privatization of the Federal Hopper Dredge Fleet in the late-seventies. Billy worked as the highway paving manager for T.L. James & Company as the early interstate highways were first being constructed. He moved frequently in the early years following the concrete paving work; Ohio, Kansas, and Mississippi were early stops before Billy and Evelyn moved back to Ruston to build U.S. Interstate Highway 20 from Calhoun through Ruston to Haughton where the highway ended and switched back to U.S. Highway 80 for many years. During his career, Billy's paving crews paved over one mile of concrete highway on three different projects, in three different states, on the same day - a feat that has seldom, if ever been duplicated since. Billy was elected President of T.L. James & Company in 1973 when he was 41years old. In addition to the highway paving business, the family-owned construction company was well known and respected as one of the largest contractors in the South. The James Company managed construction projects including river levees, hydro-electric dams, river locks, large span river bridges, and tunnels. Billy presided over the company during a period of extraordinary growth as it tripled in size. Although T.L. James Company was mostly known for the tremendous amount of street and highway work it performed, the James Company also built and maintained the second largest dredge fleet in the world, known for its channel and harbor dredging and ocean going hopper dredging fleet. The Company also performed real estate development, timber harvesting, oil &gas production, and commercial building construction. Billy prided himself on knowing his workers and their jobs. He was known to always recognize those he worked with and call them by name, even if he hadn't seen them in years. Although Billy had many good friends from all walks of life, one of his fondest memories was the recent trip to rural Mississippi where he visited one of his mechanics from the 1960s. They both had broad smiles on their faces as they swapped stories about the ""good ole days"". In 2013 Billy retired from T.L. James & Company Board of Directors retaining the title Director Emeritus, having served his family business for 58 years. Billy served as President of the Company from 1973 until 1987 and was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of T.L. James & Company when his uncle, Floyd James retired from that position. Like Floyd one of Billy's biggest jobs was leading by example and holding together the large group of disparate family members that represented Mr. T.L. James' legacy. Billy was a past Louisiana President and Lifetime Director of the National Associated General Contractors. A life-long member of the Louisiana Purchase Council of the Boy Scouts, he was recognized by Pack 45 of the Thunderbird District, Ruston, for his positive actions toward Scouting. He received the National Achievement Award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for his lifelong service to the organization. He was a member of the board of directors of the Jefferson Bank & Trust, Pan American Insurance Company, Ruston State Bank and Lincoln General Hospital; a founder of Bulk Transport Trucking Company of Louisiana. Billy was a life-long member of Trinity United Methodist Church where he was christened and confirmed as a child. The family is grateful to Leslie Michael, Sharonda Wiley, Marla Dill, Teresa Mardis and Lazonia Johnson for their loyal and caring support, to LaGrant Tolston for 50 years of loyal and faithful service, and to the many caregivers who attended him during his illness. Visitation will be held on Saturday September 26, 2015, from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1000 Woodward Ave, Ruston, LA. Services will follow immediately at 11:00. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. Memorial donations may be made to the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home, P.O. Box 929, Ruston, LA 71273, North Central LA Fellowship of Christian Athletes, P.O. Box 2721, Ruston, LA 71273 or Louisiana Purchase Council of the Boy Scouts, 2405 Oliver Road, Monroe, Louisiana 71201. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.