James Marion West, Jr.
| James M. West, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
James Marion West, Junior September 26, 1903 San Antonio, Texas |
| Died |
December 18, 1957 (aged 54) Houston, Texas |
| Cause of death | Nephrosclerosis |
| Resting place | Forest Park Cemetery, Houston, Texas |
| Other names | Silver Dollar Jim, Diamond Jim |
| Citizenship | US |
| Years active | early and mid 1900s |
| Known for | Oil, lumber, and ranching tycoon |
| Spouse(s) | Alice (née) Robertson |
| Children | Margene West, Marian West, Alice Bond "Bonnie" Sneed Talk (stepdaughter) |
| Parent(s) | James Marion West Sr., Jessie Gertrude (née Dudley) West |
| Relatives | Wesley West (brother), Mildred West (sister) |
James Marion West Jr. (September 26, 1903 – December 18, 1957) was a Texas oilman. He was the son of James Marion West Sr., the businessman who created the West family fortune, and brother of Wesley West. He was nicknamed "Silver Dollar Jim", because of his habit of throwing silver dollar coins toward passersby on the street. He was also called "Diamond Jim" because of the diamond-studded Texas Ranger badge he wore. He was known to chase criminals right behind the police. West kept a fleet of thirty cars, mostly Cadillacs in or around downtown Houston, which were equipped with an arsenal of 30-35 guns. He became an iconic fixture at Galveston casinos such as the Balinese Room. He is considered to be an archetype for the eccentric Texas oilman.
West was born to James M. West, Sr. and Jessie Gertrude (née Dudley) in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas on September 26, 1903. He would move with his family to Houston when he was two. He had two younger siblings, brother Wesley and sister Mildred. Like his father, he would enter the oil, cattle ranching, and lumber industries. West graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, an institution financially supported by his father who was a Director of the university. He then attended and graduated from the School of Law at the University of Texas at Austin. Outgoing and outspoken, West was a decided opposite of his modest father and earned a reputation for outlandish habits in his business and personal life.
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