James Royce Whatley's Obituary
James Royce Whatley, 78, of Longview died Sunday morning at Good Shepherd Medical Center, Services will be held at Two O'clock pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 with Reverend Kevin Whittmayer and Reverend Michael C.Macy officiating. Interment will follow at Rosewood Park Mausoleum in Longview. The family will acept visitors at Rader Funeral Home on Tuesday May 17, 2005 from 6pm until 8 pm.
Mr. Whatley, son of Mason and Florence Jackson Whatley, was born on October 29, 1926 in Pitsburg, Texas. A bright and delightfully mischievous child, Jim graduated Pittsburg High School. After briefly attending Texas A&M University, he served in United States Navy aboard the USS Jefferson in the South Pacific. Returning to A&M as a World War11 veteran, Jim earned his Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees from Texas A&M University.
In 1947, he and Elizabeth Hoggett of Mt. Pleasnat, Texas were married while he attended Texas A&M. Jim and Elizabeth had one son, James Mason Whatley, in the fall of 1950.
Mr. Whatley is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant. In 1951, he began his career with Exxon Corporation. He joined Kaneb Services, Inc. in 1955 as the Chief Financial Officer. Over the next 30 years, he held the offices Controller, Treasurer, Vice President and Chairman of the Board Directors and Chief Executive Office of that Company. During his term as CEO, Kaneb Services, Inc. became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1973, Jim and a group of investors bought controlling interest in the Pittsburg National Bank. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 24 years until the bank was merged with Martex Bankshares in 1997. Martex merged with Hibernia National Bank in 1999.
Jim and his wife Elizabeth left the city life of Houston and moved to a new home on Lake Bob Sandlin in Pittsburg in 1985. Together with representatives from Camp, Morris and Titus counties, an application for the creation of a new community college was filed with the Stae of Texas. Approval was obtained and Northeast Texas Community College was formed 20 years ago. The College has become a major force in enhancing the educatiuon and training opportunities in Northeast Texas, as well as provinding a tremendous outlet for the arts through the Whatley Center for the Perfoming Arts, Mr. Whatley served as founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the first 12 years of existence.
Until his death, he served as a member of the Advisory Council of the College of Business Administration and Geoscience of Texas A&M University. In 2002, he was named a Distinguished Alumni of the institution.
After moving to Longview in 1997, Mr. Whatley remained active in the Pittsburg, Housotn and Longview communities. An active philanthropist, Mr. Whatley enjoyed supporting the arts in East Texas, education, cancer research and A&M football.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his son James Mason Whatley. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth of Longview, a granddaughter Jennifer Whatley Ogilvie and her husband Landon of Longview, a sister Betty Whiteside and husband Tom of Houston, two nephews Tommy and Clark Whiteside of Houston and a daughter-in-law Diane Whatley Brown and her husband Michael of Longview. Jim also leaves behind a global network of friends and business partners. We will all miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Anerican Cancer Society at PO Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368-2454 or at www.cancer.org. Also close to Jim's heart is the Northeast Texas Rural Heritage Center in Pittsburg that includes two award-winning museums. Memorials may be arranged by calling 903/856-3621.
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