James A. Chandler

James Avan “JA” Chandler James Avan “JA” Chandler passed away on March 29, 2013 in The Woodlands, Texas. He was born on July 18, 1922 in Center Community outside Lovelady, Texas, to Elijah Hodge and Nora Harrelson Chandler. JA graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1942 from Sam Houston State Teachers College, and received a Master of Arts in Agriculture Education in 1948. JA worked in many industries, but was an avid educator in each role. Early in his career, he served as a vocational agriculture teacher for public schools in Alba, Aldine, Buffalo, and Mexia, with a brief stint in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Later, he worked as a university professor of Agriculture, advocate and trainer for the Texas Rice Industry, Dean of College of Applied Arts and Sciences at SHSU, and Assistant to Vice President for Academic Affairs at SHSU. Happy Jack, as he was known to his colleagues, worked at Sam Houston State University beginning in 1942 and ending when he retired in 1982. JA was an active member of the Huntsville Church of Christ where he faithfully attended, served on numerous committees, worked as an elder for 13 years, and helped to establish the Church of Christ Bible Chair, now known as Kats for Christ. JA has been an active public servant through involvement and leadership in Texas Forestry, Kiwanis Club, Walker County Fair, Boy Scouts of America, and Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce. JA has received numerous awards and recognitions. His most prized accomplishment is the SHSU Alumni Association Service Award received in 2000 from Sam Houston State University. JA and Ruth established an endowment scholarship at SHSU, and JA helped to establish an endowment of nearly half a million dollars through his work with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He helped establish SHSU’s chapter of Delta Tau Alpha, the National Agriculture Honor Society. JA is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Karl D. Chandler, and his wife of 64 years Ruth King Chandler. JA is survived by his children: Judy Cole of Madisonville, James King and Joey Chandler of Huntsville; grandchildren: Jeff and Jane-Ann Fleming, Jacob and Lucrecia Chandler, and Cody Chandler; great-grandchildren: Chandler Fleming, Sarah Catherine Fleming, and Aidan Chandler. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 2, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. John Spencer will preside over the services. Interment will follow in the Brooke Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to: JA and Ruth Chandler Endowment Scholarship, University Advancement, Box 2537, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2537. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com

James A. Chandler

July 18, 1922 - April 3, 2013