| Notes |
P. 95 from Lola McFarland's 1966 book. "James Coffey Jernigan- married to Frances Williams. In addition to the above information the following quote from (AP) - ....James Jernigan earned B.S. and M.S. degrees at North Texas State College, and has been elected president of the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities. See notes on his wife for the rest of the information.
Obituary:
The Dallas Morning News Tuesday, August 13, 1996
Jernigan
James Coffey, former president of Texas A & I University, died August 10, 1996 at Baylor Richardson Medical Center of Richardson. Funeral service will be at 10 AM Thursday, August 15 at the first Christian Church, Richardson, burial at Restland Cemetery under the direction of Flesher Funeral Home, Van Alstyne, Texas. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 55 1/2 years, Frances Williams Jernigan in January, 1996, his parents, Austen and Blanche Jernigan and brother Stuart Jernigan. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, James William and Tyler Jernigan of San Diego; daughter and son-in-law, Laura Frances and Ken Espensen of San Antonio; five grandchildren, Jennifer and Scott Espensen, Corey, Shelley and Dana Frances Jernigan; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Jean Jernigan of McKinney; sisters in law, Florence Reagin of Forney and Mary Jernigan of Brian, Texas; nephews, nieces and a host of friends. Dr. Jernigan was born December 20, 1914 in Sedalia, near Van Alstyne, Texas, attended school in Sedalia and graduated from McKinney High School. He received a Bachelors and Masters degrees from North Texas State College, now the University of North Texas, and the PhD degree from the University of Chicago. His distinguished career as an educator began in 1934 at Rosamond Chapel, a one teacher school in Collin County. He was teacher and principal at Whitewright High School where he met his wife, Frances Williams Jernigan, also a teacher. He was elected superintendent of schools, Pilot Point, Texas in 1939 and became Deputy State Superintendent of Schools in Texas in 1941. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army and was discharged as a Capt. in 1946. He was an ETO combat officer with the 29th division earning the Bronze Star and campaign stars for Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. In May, 1945 Jernigan was named director of men's activities of Texas A & I, now A & M University at Kingsville; he became Dean of Student Life the following September. He took a leave of absence in 1947 to attend the University of Chicago where he completed work for a PhD in 1949. Dr. Jernigan returned to A & I and became Director of Student Personnel and Associate Professor of Education. He was appointed Dean in 1950 and served in that capacity until becoming President of the college in 1963. He was named Chancellor of the Texas A & I in 1972 and retired in 1975. Since retirement he lived in Richardson, Texas where he was also a consultant to the Plano public schools, Grayson County Community College, and the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife were active members of the Christian church, both in Kingsville and Richardson. For many years he taught a couple's class at the First Christian church and held many other positions of leadership. The family will be at the Flesher Funeral home in Van Alstyne from 7 - 8 PM Tuesday for visitation and at the first Christian Church in Richardson from 7 - 8 PM Wednesday for visitation, 601 E. Main St. Memorials in his memory may be made to the First Christian Church, 601 E. Main St., Richardson, TX 75081; the James C Jernigan Library, Texas A & M at Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363 or the charity or church of your choice.
Flesher Funeral Home Van Alstyne 903 - 482 - 5225
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1914 - 1996 (81 years)
