James L. (Jim) Lucas was born July 5, 1925 in Kay County, Oklahoma and passed into his new life on January 27, 2019. Jim was raised in the far west Texas town of Pecos, Texas after his parents moved there during the Great Depression. Jim was known by many names to his family and friends, Sonny, Re-Pete, Luke, Papa, Big Papa, Coach, Boss and the “Pecos Peach”.He left Pecos on a train to Fort Worth at the age of 17 to attend Texas Christian University on a football scholarship, where he played quarterback, running back, defensive back and punter, as well as catcher on the baseball team. After the first year and a half of college, Jim was drafted into the U.S. Navy at the height of World War II. He served on the destroyer U.S.S. Lang at the peak of the kamikaze attacks as a radioman and five-inch gun operator in the South Pacific.At the end of World War II, Jim returned to Fort Worth and Texas Christian University to complete his degree and college football career, winning the Grassy Hinton Trophy for Most Valuable Player and later being named to the TCU Lettermen’s Hall of Fame. After returning to TCU, Jim formalized his relationship with a west Texas rancher’s daughter, Pauline (Poddy) Jones, who had caught his attention before the war and had been a long-time pen pal. She would be the love of his life. He was the quarterback and captain of the football team and she was the cheerleader and homecoming queen. The storybook couple truly had a storybook life together. They were married in Eldorado, Texas on August 27, 1949.Upon graduation from college with degrees, as he so often claimed, in Campusology and Horizontal Strategy, Jim was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in football and the Philadelphia Phillies in baseball. He elected to forego professional sports and began his career as a coach in Borger, Texas. After a few years of coaching, Jim went into the insurance business. He was hired by State Farm Insurance and moved to Midland, Texas in 1953, as the first State Farm agent in west Texas and one of the original 7 agency managers for the State of Texas. He was with State Farm until his retirement in 1995.Jim was successful in every aspect of his life, as a coach, referee and umpire for kids from grade school to college, as a businessman, as a friend, as a man of faith, and especially a family man. He served as a deacon and an elder in the Westminster Presbyterian and First Presbyterian Churches of Midland, Texas. He has a very special relationship with Jesus and will for eternity.Jim was preceded in death by his wife Poddy Lucas, his son Thomas Jack Lucas, his parents Muriel and Leon Lucas, his brother Larry Lucas and sister Twila Jean Marrs. Jim is survived by his children, James L. Lucas, Jr. and wife, Brenda, Paul L. Lucas and wife, Susan, and Timothy E. Lucas and wife, Julie. He is also survived by his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews. Honorary Pallbearers are Matthew Lucas, Garrett Lucas, Eddy Ohlenburg, Barry Marrs, Eric Marrs, Ricky Jones, Glen Ellis, Jim Hill, Kelly Cox, Foy Harrison, Morris Williams, Todd Andes, Kevin Blonkvist, Gary Lang and Scot Northern. The family wishes to give special thanks to Jim’s caregivers, Angela Barela and Otilia Muniz.Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 2, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, 800 W. Texas Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701. In lieu of flowers we suggest donations to the Lucas Family Scholarship at Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, the Deacon’s Fund at the First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, or to Hospice of Midland, 911 W. Texas Avenue, Midland, Texas 79701.,
