User:Edmoft12/sandbox/James H. Edmondson, III

Article name is...James Howard Edmondson, III (b. 1933 in Topeka, Kansas; died November 29, 2008 in Dallas, Texas). James Howard James Howard Edmondson, III, always known as "Jim", was an independent insurance salesman in Dallas, Texas. He was born in Topeka, Kansas on May 14, 1933, the son of Frazor Titus Edmondson, II and Sally Anderson Edmondson, who moved to Dallas with the Campbell Taggart bakeries where Frazor served in the legal department and ultimately as CEO and Chairman of the Board. Jim grew up in Highland Park attending the Park Cities schools until going to Sewanee Military Academy in Sewanee, Tennessee where he graduated from high school and where he wrestled and played football. He then attended the Virginia Military Institute as a long line of his family had done before him. He graduated from VMI in 1955. Jim attended UT law school for a semester before being called away to Army training where he attained the rank of Captain. Upon his return to Dallas, he entered the insurance business and, after working with the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, established his own firm: Jim Edmondson & Associates. He was a life-long, active member of the Dallas social scene, participating in clubs and events such as the Dervish Club, Calyx Club, the Terpsichorean Club, Idlewild, the Dallas Ski Club, the 200 Club and Who's Who. Jim was a 32nddegree Mason and a member of the Northwood Country Club and Petroleum Club as well as various historical societies, including the Society of the Cincinnati, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. As a member of the Virginia State Society of the Society of the Cincinnati, Jim was instrumental in forming the Texas Chapter of the Society in the 1970s. Three interests were his life-long passion: reading history, playing tennis and everything about his alma mater, VMI. He was a proud member of the VMI class of '55, and bled red, white and yellow. Jim was married twice and has three sons, his first son, Frazor Titus (Ty) Edmondson, III from his marriage to Carol Gilliland of Dallas and two sons by his second wife, Jan Elliott: James H. (Beau) Edmondson and Robert Chase Elliott Edmondson. He was the brother of Sally (Cissie) Sparkman and his brother in-law was Ben Hines Sparkman. He had two nephews James Howard Sparkman and Ben Hines Sparkman, Jr. But for all of those who will miss him so much here, it is comforting to know that Jim is now off in his jalopy, riding through winding Virginia roads and it is 1955 forever.