1922
James
2014
James Avery Rush Jr.
November 22, 1922 — February 9, 2014
James Avery Rush Jr., 91, of Amarillo died February 9, 2014.
Memorial services will be at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Amarillo with Rev. Dr. Clay Brown, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Avery was born on November 22, 1922 in Luxora, Arkansas. He moved to Amarillo in 1928 and ultimately graduated from Amarillo High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and finance from the University of Texas in 1943. He received his honors law degree from the University of Texas in 1948.
In 1945, Avery married Dorothy Jane Jenkins of Amarillo, and they had four children - Dorothy Jo, James Avery III, Nancy Chandler, and Carol Jane.
Avery served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Air Force and was a graduate of the Judge Advocate General's School.
After working at Baker Botts law firm in Houston for six years, Avery returned to Amarillo in 1953 and joined the exploration and production unit of Shamrock Oil and Gas, which later became Diamond Shamrock. During his time at Diamond Shamrock, he served as assistant general counsel, general counsel, vice president, executive vice president, vice president of finance for the parent company Diamond Shamrock Corp., president, executive vice president of Diamond Shamrock Corp; and vice chairman of the board of directors. Avery's career at Diamond Shamrock spanned thirty-two years, and he retired in 1985.
Avery devoted his time to philanthropic endeavors and civic service. Avery served on the boards of the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, United Way of Amarillo, Texas Research League, the Amarillo Board of City Development and the Amarillo Texas Children's Home Foundation. He served on the boards of Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association and Southwestern Public Service Co. Avery and Janie were charter members of the Sybil B. Harrington Leadership Society, a donor organization supporting the United Way.
Avery was a member of the Amarillo Bar Association; Texas Bar Association; American Bar Association; Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, of which he served as President; American Petroleum Institute; Independent Petroleum Association of America; YMCA; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he taught the Sunporch Sunday School class for over forty years.
He was preceded in death by his daughters, Nancy Chandler Rush and Jo Rush Mozola.
Survivors include his wife, Janie Rush; his son, James Avery Rush, III; his daughter Carol Rush Stewart; his grandchildren - Erin Mozola Bunkley, Dr. Jave Rush, Dr. Ryan Rush, Jamie Mozola Shouse, Dr. Sloan Rush, Hayden Rush Huff, James David White, Stephen Stewart, John White, Jenks White, Christopher Stewart, and Travis Stewart; and his great-granchildren - Thomas Allen Bunkley IV, Emmie Caroline Rush, Avery Jane Shouse, True Solomon Rush, Claire Chandler Shouse, and Mabry Madeline Rush.
In Lieu of flowers, family suggests memorials be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Memorial services will be at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Amarillo with Rev. Dr. Clay Brown, pastor, officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Avery was born on November 22, 1922 in Luxora, Arkansas. He moved to Amarillo in 1928 and ultimately graduated from Amarillo High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and finance from the University of Texas in 1943. He received his honors law degree from the University of Texas in 1948.
In 1945, Avery married Dorothy Jane Jenkins of Amarillo, and they had four children - Dorothy Jo, James Avery III, Nancy Chandler, and Carol Jane.
Avery served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Air Force and was a graduate of the Judge Advocate General's School.
After working at Baker Botts law firm in Houston for six years, Avery returned to Amarillo in 1953 and joined the exploration and production unit of Shamrock Oil and Gas, which later became Diamond Shamrock. During his time at Diamond Shamrock, he served as assistant general counsel, general counsel, vice president, executive vice president, vice president of finance for the parent company Diamond Shamrock Corp., president, executive vice president of Diamond Shamrock Corp; and vice chairman of the board of directors. Avery's career at Diamond Shamrock spanned thirty-two years, and he retired in 1985.
Avery devoted his time to philanthropic endeavors and civic service. Avery served on the boards of the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, United Way of Amarillo, Texas Research League, the Amarillo Board of City Development and the Amarillo Texas Children's Home Foundation. He served on the boards of Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association and Southwestern Public Service Co. Avery and Janie were charter members of the Sybil B. Harrington Leadership Society, a donor organization supporting the United Way.
Avery was a member of the Amarillo Bar Association; Texas Bar Association; American Bar Association; Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, of which he served as President; American Petroleum Institute; Independent Petroleum Association of America; YMCA; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he taught the Sunporch Sunday School class for over forty years.
He was preceded in death by his daughters, Nancy Chandler Rush and Jo Rush Mozola.
Survivors include his wife, Janie Rush; his son, James Avery Rush, III; his daughter Carol Rush Stewart; his grandchildren - Erin Mozola Bunkley, Dr. Jave Rush, Dr. Ryan Rush, Jamie Mozola Shouse, Dr. Sloan Rush, Hayden Rush Huff, James David White, Stephen Stewart, John White, Jenks White, Christopher Stewart, and Travis Stewart; and his great-granchildren - Thomas Allen Bunkley IV, Emmie Caroline Rush, Avery Jane Shouse, True Solomon Rush, Claire Chandler Shouse, and Mabry Madeline Rush.
In Lieu of flowers, family suggests memorials be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or Westminster Presbyterian Church.
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