Jim Greenwood

Jimmy “Jim” D. Greenwood was born April 13, 1933 in Dewey, Oklahoma into families that were both on the Delaware and Cherokee Indian rolls in Oklahoma; he died August 8, 2023 at the age of 90 at home in Bryan, Texas. He was surrounded by the people he loved and who loved him in return as husband, father and grandfather. 

At a young age, Jim moved with his family to Borger, Texas during the oil boom in 1936. It was here that he learned that hard work and the value of an education go hand in hand. While in school, he often had jobs, whether it was setting pins in the bowling alley, delivering telegraphs, or working the docks at Lee Way Motor Freight, all the while never missing school and excelling in both athletics and academics. He was Captain of the Borger Bulldog football team and an officer of his graduating class in 1951. 

He received a football scholarship to attend West Texas State University in 1951 where he became a four year starter and team captain. In January 1955, his senior year, Jim was selected to play in the all-star Salad Bowl in Temple, Arizona.

During his freshman year, he met Katy Brown, who became the love of his life; they were married in July, 1954. That love never wavered for over 70 years. 

After a brief time in the U. S. Army, Jim returned to his career passion of teaching and coaching football at the high school level. Coaching stops included Stratford, Canyon, Perryton, and Amarillo High. He was the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Football Coach recipient in 1964, after taking his Stratford team to the play-offs.     

During this time, he still sought to improve his education and earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling from WTSU and a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology from Texas Tech University. In 1973, both Jim and wife Katy were offered fellowships to complete their doctorates at the University of Minnesota, with Jim’s emphasis on school leadership and administration.

He moved from coaching to becoming a high school principal both in Minnesota and Texas when the family moved back in 1980. Before retiring as an educator, Jim served for 3 years as coach and teacher at Windom School System. 

Upon retiring from education after more than 30 years and while Katy was a professor at the University of Houston, they decided to open an antique and furniture shop - Vintage Furnishings in College Station. They enjoyed meeting and getting to know the many customers that stopped in. They mostly enjoyed traveling together up and down the east coast looking for the best pieces to bring back home. 

Through all these years with Katy, his real pride and joy were their four children: Lisa, Jim Lee, Joe, and Lesley. He took great interest and satisfaction in watching them grow up and was always there offering support and guidance. Nothing else took priority over those four kids.  From school events, athletic events or whatever life threw at them, he didn’t miss it. He took them all over the country not just on vacations, but to experience adventure, see something different, and learn something new. He was always teaching and coaching.

Jim is preceded in death by his adoptive father, O. M. Greenwood; his mother, Opal Millie Taylor Greenwood; his brother, Don Greenwood and wife Frankie; his sister, Joyce Greenwood Ferguson and husband Stony; his sister, Sharon Greenwood Klinger; and his granddaughter, Mary Conner Duffee.

Jim is survived by his wife, Katy; his four children, Lisa Greenwood Duffee of Dallas, Jim Lee Greenwood and wife Carolyn, Joe Kelly Greenwood and wife Jackie, all of Bryan, Texas, and Lesley Greenwood Burke of Mansfield, Texas. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Katy Duffee Guerder of Irvine, California, Savannah Greenwood, Lacey Greenwood, Miles Greenwood, Ryan Greenwood, Julia Greenwood Fuller and husband Jake, all of Bryan, Texas, Brady Burke and wife Chelsea of Charlotte, North Carolina, Emily and Riley Burke of Mansfield, Texas; and two great grandchildren, Elena and Margaux Guerder of Irvine, California. 

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Aggieland Humane Society, Bryan, Texas.