James Wilkerson

FUNERAL SERVICES: 2:00 P.M. Saturday, March 18, 2017, at First United Methodist Church. BURIAL: Newburg Cemetery in Comanche. VISITATION: Family will receive friends at Comanche Funeral Home on Friday, March 17, 2017, from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. RECEPTION: A reception for the family will be at the family home, 110 Fox Creek Drive, following the funeral service on Saturday, March 18, 2017. MEMORIALS: If desired, memorials may be made to: Comanche Youth Council P.O. Box 153 Comanche, Tx 76442 or Comanche Lions Club Attn: Ronnie Clifton 401 Sutton Drive Comanche, Tx 76442 or First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 88 Comanche, Tx 76442 He was born November 25, 1943 in Brownwood, Texas to James Claude Wilkerson, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Smith Wilkerson. On August 13, 1966, he was united in marriage to Nancy Caraway at the First Baptist Church of Comanche. He graduated from Comanche High School in 1962, and from the University of Texas in Austin in 1967. After graduation, he was a sales representative for KNOW Radio in Austin before returning home to Comanche County to co-publish the De Leon Free Press. He then returned to the family-owned newspaper, The Com anche Chief, in 1972 where he was publisher and editor for over 40 years. Jim Wilkerson received notable recognition in the year 2000 by making the cover of the University of Texas B usiness School magazine which featured the article, “Doing business in small town Texas”. Jim’s love for his hometown led to his active involvement in the community. He was past president and a longtime member of the Comanche Noon Lions Club and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Comanche where he served on the Administrative Board and Finance Committee. Jim was also a member and past president of the Comanche Chamber of Commerce. Jim had a lifetime passion for the game of golf during which he made three holes-in-one at PAR Country Club, the last of which came on the same day as his nephew’s, Cole Durham, first. As a member of the Men’s Golf Association at PAR Country Club, he won the 1972 Championship Flight. However, he took the most pride in telling people he was the winner of the first annual De Leon Peach and Melon Festival Seed Spitting Contest, and even had the trophy to prove it! Jim was a devoted supporter of Comanche ISD. This could especially be said about the Indians and Maidens sports programs. He was a positive influence and cared deeply about having good programs for the kids of Comanche. Monday mornings, Comanche High School coaches would expect Jim and the stats from the Friday night football game which he religiously reported in the sports section of The Comanche Chief. In addition, Jim, himself, enjoyed many years of coaching Comanche Youth Council tee-ball, softball, basketball, baseball, and soccer teams. Later in life, “Jimbo” , as his grandkids and their friends affectionately knew him, took pride in watching and reporting on their sporting events in Comanche and Southlake. Jim enjoyed his time on the family Newburg ranch and vineyard with wife Nancy raising registered Angus cattle and many varieties of grapes for Brennan Vineyards in which he was a stockholder. He was a major supporter of the Comanche County Livestock Association, as well as, a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Among his accomplishments, Jim received the Comanche Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Comanche High School Hall of Fame in 2005.