Background

Summers, James William was born on July 8, 1914 in Rusk, Texas, United States. Son of James Lee and Constance (Rook) Summers.

Education

Bachelor of Business Administration, University Texas, 1937. Juris Doctor, University Texas, 1937. Graduate, Institute Juvenile Court Management.

Graduate, National College State Judiciary.

Career

Private practised, Rusk, 1937—1956. City attorney, 1937—1941. County attorney Cherokee County, 1941—1942, 1947—1948.

County judge, 1949—1956. Judge 2d Judicial District Texas, Rusk, 1957—1978. Chief justice Court Appeals 12th Supreme Judicial District Texas, Tyler, from 1978.

Director Southwestern Title & Guaranty Company First State Bank, 1937—1978. Partner Summers and Summers, land, cattle, timber. Faculty, Texas College judiciary, 1975—1976.

Director Civil Defense, Cherokee County, 1949—1956. Member Cherokee County Heritage Association, Cherokee Civic Theatre. Member advisory council Criminal Justice Program, Stephen F. Austin University.

Vice chairman Rusk Housing Сorporation. Chairman Nacogdoches-Cherokee Counties Probation Board. Board directors East Texas area council Boy Scouts American, East Texas Regional Cancer Center, Rusk Industrial Foundation, Rusk United Way, Rusk Bicentennial Commission.

Board directors, executive committee Rusk Civic Service, Inc. Served as lieutenant United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1946.

Achievements

• Bar: United States Supreme Court bar, Texas bar 1937.

Works

• Other Work

  • Contributor to professional publications.

Religion

The Covenant is the means of grace by which the relationship with God is accepted and then sustained. It is therefore not so much about getting in to a relationship with God as it is about staying in it.

Politics

Every Church statement in social or economic field should be seriously considered and demonstrate a competence in political sphere.

Views

It is important to experience God's grace working in the lives of people. Wisdom and maturity are gained from life experience, especially during the prayer and sharing stories with other Christians.

Membership

Fellow: Texas Bar Foundation (life). Member: Beta Gamma Sigma, American Legion, Cherokee County History Commission (director), Texas State History Foundation, Texas Farm Bureau Federation, Rusk Chamber of Commerce (chairman government affairs committee), University Texas Ex-Students Association (executive council Austin, past president Cherokee County alumni club), East Texas Aberdeen-Angus associations, National Conference State Trial Judges, State Bar Texas (member nominating committee judicial section, vice chairman juvenile judges continuing legal education committee), Smith County Bar Association, Cherokee Bar Association, East Texas Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Judicature Society, Willow Brook Country (Tyler), Masons (Shriners), Kiwanis, Willow Brook Country, Phi Delta Theta (vice president East Texas alumni), Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Delta Phi.

Connections

Married Inez Thompson Steed, November 22, 1969. Children: Julia Ann, Raymond C. Steed.

father:

James Lee Summers

mother:

Constance (Rook) Summers

spouse:

Inez Thompson Steed

child:

Julia Ann Summers

child:

Raymond C. Steed Summers