James Ray Hawkins

Veteran, Businessman, Philanthropist, husband, father and affectionately PaPa. These are the titles that best describe James Ray Hawkins. Known by his friends as having the ‘Midas Touch’, Jim loved, mentored and influenced a countless number of people throughout his lifetime.

At the age of 86, Jim passed away at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. He was born February 20, 1936 in DeKalb, Texas to James Otis and Ruby Ray Pickins Hawkins. He grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas, moved to Waco at age 17 and graduated from Waco High School in 1954. He attended Baylor University in the ROTC program, graduating in 1958 with a BBA in Accounting. He was a U.S. Air Force Weather Officer from 1958 to 1962 having graduated from St. Louis University School of Geophysics. He became a CPA in 1963 and was managing partner of Greenstein & Hawkins CPA firm for several years. Next, Jim bought Gibson Discount Centers in 1973 after being their CPA. A pioneer in the acquisition of distressed assets and involved in finance and investments, Jim bought and sold companies, real estate and other assets quite successfully. He was the Chairman of the Board of J-Hawk Corporation, FirstCity Financial Corporation and AMC Financial Holdings, Inc. He also had partnerships, sealed by a mere handshake, with many close friends, but especially Rondy T. Gray, his favorite gin rummy partner.

Jim was a past Chairman of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, President of the Waco ISD Board of Trustees, Waco Business League and Waco Jaycees. He was a Director of the Baylor Bear Foundation, Waco Industrial Foundation, and Waco Foundation. Though never one to seek recognition or attention, Jim was awarded with the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award, Waco ISD Distinguished Alumni Award and the Waco Business League Lifetime Achievement Award.

Married to the love of his life, Nell, together they showered the Waco community with support and involvement for over 37 years. They received the Judge R.E. Baylor Award, the Baylor University Legacy Award, the NSFRE Philanthropist of the Year Award, the MCC President’s Award of Distinction and many, many others. Jim and Nell loved Baylor athletics and were most proud of making the lead gift for the basketball practice facility in 2005 after Coach Kim Mulkey and her team won their first National Championship. They also reveled in the opportunity to attend the Heisman Trophy Banquet in New York City in December of 2011 invited by good friends Judge Kenneth and Alice Starr when Robert Griffin III became the first and only Baylor Bear to receive this award thus far. In honor of his love for tennis and Baylor, Jim and Nell also provided the funding for the Jim and Nell Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center on the Baylor campus. Throughout Waco you will find numerous other examples of Jim and Nell’s generosity and love for this community.

Above all of his awards, accolades and accomplishments, his deepest love was for his family. PaPa valued education and thus provided the resources necessary for each grandchild to attend the school of their choice - even if it meant not being a Baylor Bear.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and first wife JoAnn Chapin Cummings.

He is survived by his cherished wife Nell; children, Lori Martin, Lisa Green and husband, Philip, Melanie Craft and husband, Michael and Larry Turner and wife, Tammy. Jim was blessed with eight grandchildren: Chris Martin and wife, Hayley, Elizabeth Barbaro and husband, Vito, Elliot Martin, A.J., Kathryn and Jennifer Green, Megan Huneycutt and husband, Drew and Bryan Carter and wife, Katie. Great-grandchildren include Kipton and Kamilla Martin, Alina and Ellie Barbaro, Hadley and Heath Huneycutt, and Everly Carter. Jim is also survived by his brother, David and wife, Sherry Hawkins; and numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks also go to caregivers Tom (George) and Maria Moody, Olga Rodriquez and Debra Garrett for their loving assistance over many years.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. December 6, 2022, at the First Baptist Church of Waco with a reception to follow in the Church Parlor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the James R. Hawkins Endowment Fund in the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University, the MCC Foundation, the Cameron Park Zoo and Fuzzy Friends Rescue.