Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

www.texaspikes.com the Beta mu review 2 J im Jacks '69 will tell you he has led a blessed life, with a fascinating career in the legal field, first in many years of committed public service, and today as a partner in one of the country's largest law firms. Jim and his wife, Becky, are proud parents of two successful children and are new grandparents. He is a proud Longhorn and Pike who still calls two of his pledge brothers his best friends. Jim's early years were spent in Waco where he attended Richfield High School, now called Waco High. Two of his hometown friends, gary Calfee '69 and gary nelon '69, were Pike pledges whom Jim credits with introducing him to the fraternity. Jim pledged in fall 1968 and was initiated in early 1969. Jim recalls his Pike days, "Having gone through the pledge routine and experienced fraternity life, I came to appreciate the value of friendship, loyalty and the commitment to a common goal or cause. While we of course had alumni advisors, it was up to us as 19-, 20-, and 21-year-olds to run the chapter, pay the bills and make sure the fraternity thrived and continued to be a place where other young men would want to be during college. I learned about leadership, confidence and being able to communicate confidently with my fraternity brothers, as well as others you interact with in and around the university." After graduating from Texas with a B.B.A. in finance in 1972, Jim attended Texas Tech law school, earning his J.D. in 1976. Upon graduation, Jim moved to Houston with the desire to get trial experience, spending almost a year in a private practice and was then hired by the district attorney's office in Galveston where he spent another year. In 1978, the legendary Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade hired Jim. Following another meaningful prosecutorial position in Dallas County for several years, Jim sought to gain experience in federal court, so in 1982 he applied for a position as an assistant United States Attorney. "I thought, like a lot of people, that I would stay in the U.S. Attorney's office for a few years and would then go into private practice. I know Becky thought that was my plan. Thirty years later, I ended up retiring from the U.S. Attorney's office, having been appointed the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas in December 2008, serving until September 2011, and formally retiring from government in 2012. After leaving government, Jim joined the mega- law firm of Patton Boggs LLP in January 2013 in its Dallas office. "It's exciting and rewarding to work in a national law firm that handles significant cases for Fortune 500 companies, several foreign countries and prominent individuals. It's a second career for me." Jim says his best friends today are two of his Pike pledge brothers, John Cooley '69 and ed Cartwright '69. "After leaving U.T., we all went in different directions but kept in touch. John went into the Air Force and later retired as an American Airlines captain, and Ed went to Houston and Galveston as a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch and I went off to law school at Texas Tech. Fortuitously, we all ended up in Dallas in the late '70s-early '80s and our friendship has deepened. Our families have taken ski trips together, beach trips, trips to Mexico and Las Vegas. Our kids have grown up together and are friends as well." Ed believes Jim embodies the tenets of Pike's scholarship, leadership and integrity, remembering Jim "as filled with common sense and composure in college," and he salutes Jim's later success as a lawyer and dedicated family man. Ed recalls, "When the Beta Mu group would embark on one of our dubious college escapades around Austin, Jim was with us and if a perilous event unfolded, he would most often be the one to steer us in a reliable direction. Jim is a person of real character and accomplishment. His resolve and perseverance have enabled Jim to achieve great success in the legal profession. His wonderful wife, Becky, and his two children are testimony of his personal commitment to family." Jim also stays in close contact with Chris Jones '70, steve Parsons '71, steve ray '69 and others who have settled in Dallas after beginning their careers. Jim and Becky met in Dallas. Becky grew up in the Chicago area and was a newly minted nursing graduate of Bradley University in 1980. (Becky is a Sigma Kappa Sorority member.) She knew no one in Dallas but wanted a change of pace and new experiences from Illinois. Jim liked her steely resolve and they began dating. They have two children, Molly, 29, and Peyton, 27. Molly lives in Austin and gave the Jackses their first granddaughter, Rae. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas before returning to Austin and worked in the arts before becoming a mom. Their son, Peyton, attended St. Louis University where he earned a B.B.A. and played basketball for three years, including his senior year under then-new coach Rick Majerus. Peyton coached for several years as a graduate assistant at Drake University and later Oakland University, picking up an M.B.A. at Oakland. Peyton is now in the investment banking department at Comerica Bank in Dallas. Jim's hobbies include golf, traveling with family, the rare snow skiing trip and hunting. He laments that "John Cooley will tell you that he's invited me to go hunting a dozen times and I'm always too busy." Jim has also been involved in community service activities over the years such as serving on the board of his children's school, Christ the King Catholic School, and was also a board member of the 30th anniversary board of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in 2010. Jim Jacks is clearly one of Beta Mu's most distinguished members. We salute his service to our nation and thank him for living and embodying the Pike creed of developing men of integrity, intellect, success and high moral character, and to participating in a truly lifelong fraternal experience. alumnus spotlight on James t. Jacks '69 Distinguished Dallas Lawyer and Loyal Pike Served as U.S. Attorney As U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Jim Jacks '69 met with President George W. Bush. John Cooley '69, Jim Jacks '69 and Steve Ray '69 at the summer 2013 Dallas alumni reception.

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