Alfred Douglas James

Alfred Douglas James, 87, passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, in Amarillo, Texas. 

Doug was born in Camp Springs, Texas to Malcom Charles James and Dollie Alfie Trice James on October 8, 1936. The family later moved to Snyder, Texas when Doug was in elementary school. He finished his high school education there and then attended McMurry University (then McMurry College) in Abilene, Texas on a football scholarship, playing four years and graduating in 1963. He later received a master's degree in education from our lady of the lake university in San Antonio, Texas.

Doug met Nancy Ingram in Abilene, and they married August 11, 1960. They recently celebrated 64 years of love and adventures. They have one son, Rusty Lee James and wife Suzanne of Frisco, Texas, and two grandsons, Tyler Young James of Denver, Colorado, and Ryan Douglas James of Plano, Texas.

Doug got to live his dream teaching, coaching, and leading young men. He always felt God led him to each place in his career. He started his career in Coleman, Texas, coaching and teaching in the junior high school and coaching high school baseball. He then accepted a junior varsity position at R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas for four years and then moved to Amarillo to coach at Palo Duro High School under George Kirk as an assistant for three years and then was elevated to head coach in 1972. After four years, Doug accepted the head coaching position in San Antonio, Texas at John Jay High School. He completed four years there and then accepted the same position at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. After two seasons there, he moved back to Palo Duro in 1982 again as head football coach and retired in 1995.

Apparently, retirement didn't suit him as he was hired to teach at north height's alternative school where he stayed for 17 years, retiring in 2012, and even then, he continued to substitute teach until 2015. A career of 50 years in education and he loved every moment of touching lives and forming life-long friendships with fellow educators, coaches, and former students.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, an older brother Marlin Charles James and his wife Marsha James. He is survived by his son, Rusty Lee James and his wife Suzanne, two grandsons, Tyler Young James and Ryan Douglas James, a brother Robert Norman James and his wife Linda and numerous nephews and nieces, and cousins.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date at Lake Texhoma.

The family requests any memorials to be made to the High Plains Children's Home, PO Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114 or "Dons Forever Football Scholarship Fund" in care of the Amarillo Independent School Administration Building, 7200 1-40 West, Amarillo, Texas 79106: Attn. Tracey Norman.