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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRollins, Jack 12.12.1924 - 11.03.2009 .r� pp,, lry i) W i /, i el 6 if December 12, 1924 - November 3, 2009 " .- r ,. James Jackson Rollins, 84, of Carrollton, and passed away w November 3, 2009. Funeral services were held onThursday ' November 5 , 2009, at First BaptistChurchinCarrollton ,Texas. 0 ,, , Burial followed in the Dallas /FortWorth National Cemetery. He was born in Houston on December 12, 1924. Jack graduated fromTexas Country Day [currently St. Mark's] Dallas, "- in June 1942, and enrolled in Texas A &M the very next week He was voluntarily inducted into the Army on March 10, 1943, at Fort Sill, Okla. He served in WWII from March 10, 1943 to October 26, 1945, in both, the Infantry and Artillery. He went into combat on Thanksgiving Day 1943. He was discharged on Oct. 26, 1945 and was awarded six medals, including the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star. His ETO had seven Battle Stars including Battle of Bulge. He returned to Texas A &M in January 1946, graduating in August 1948 with a degree in business and accounting. On Sept. 17, 1948, he began work for his only employer, Sears, Roebuck and Co., retiring on Dec. 31, 1980. His career took him to six cities in Texas and one in Louisiana: San Angelo: 1948 -1955, Trainee; Austin: 1955 -1959, H/L Mdse. Mgr.; Victoria: 1959 1961, Assistant Store Manager; Bryan: 1961 -1963, Store Manager; Galveston: 1963 -1967, Store Manager; Lake Charles, LA: 1967 -1971, Store Manager; Victoria: 1971 -1973, Store Manager; Dallas: 1973 - 1980, Dallas Zone Appliance Manager. As Assistant Manager inVictoria, he was awarded theTayloe Days J. C. Higgins football, signed by all store employees, for best Sales Performance in the Dallas Zone. During his time as Store Manager inVictoria, Jack was remembered as a friend and was honored to be invited and attend the last Sears Employee Reunion in 2006. During his first Sears assignment in San Angelo, Sears opened the first West Texas "mechanical stairway" on Sept. 13, 1951. The,store stayed open until 9 p.m. onThursday and Saturday so everyone could ride the escalator. It was in San Angelo that Jack assisted in the organization of the Six Man Football Association, and through this association he was privileged to have refereed all of Jack Pardee's six'-man Christoval High School football games. He was present when Jack Pardee, All American 1956, signed a four -year football scholarship to Texas A &M University. Comparable to his association with Jack Pardee was his coaching of YMCA Little League Teams to City Championships in 1952 and 1953. "May sports be your catalyst to greater accomplishments in life." Mr. Rollins is remembered for his assignment in Galveston as the only Sears store manager to have the Allstate Insurance booth dismantled and removed from a Sears store. After receiving several calls from Allstate patrons that no one was available at the booth, Mr. Rollins had the booth dismantled and removed, setting off a flurry of -visits and phone calls from both Sears and Allstate executives. When the booth was reinstated, it was continually manned during operating hours. Two of his treasures were the pictures of store personnel, Galveston in 1967 and Bryan taken July 28, 1963. While store manager in Lake Charles, La. , Jack was named "Boss of the Year in 1969" and was made an honorary Cajun "Educated Coonass ". It was during his assignment in Lake Charles, he became friends with John Wood, who went on to play football at LSU and professionally with Denver. Because of their close association, John presented Jack with a game -ball autographed by all LSU coaches and players from the 1970 Orange Bowl when LSU was the SEC champion. He was honored to be invited to the Lake Charles Sears Store Reunions, attending the last one on October 16, 2004. After his retirement as Dallas Zone appliance manager on.Dec. 31, 1980, he participated in forming the Sears RetireesAnnual Spring Retreat, which continues in similar format today, and renewed his friendship with many college friends. He returned to golf and the Book Club, and became a Tuesday afternoon regular at Watauga Middle School football games in support of his nephew who is head coach and athletic director. The last sporting event he attended was the Watauga Warriors football game on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, six days prior to his death. In 1984, he began a wonderful association with the good folks at Mobil Oil Corporation, which has continued after Jan's retirement on Dec. 1, 2001. At the time of his death, Jack was a member of: Adult Six Bible Study Class, First Baptist -- Church, Carrollton; Masonic Lodge, Victoria [Master Mason 50+ years]; Scottish Rite Valley - Dallas; Shriner -Hella " Temple, Dallas; Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge; Texas v,, ;;;4":„:-.. 4 >,„ F A &M Association of Former Students; and Texas A &M , ftK � Letterman's Association. '_ Honorary pallbearers were, Adult Six Bible Study Class of First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, - Mary Williamson & Andrew P. Rollins. Survivors include his loving his wife of 32 years, Jan, of Carrollton; brothers, Andrew P. Rollins Jr., of Portland, Ore. and Albert W. Rollins of Arlington, Texas ; and sister, Rose Massier, of Garland, Texas; numerous other family and many dear friends. `f) Remembrances may be made toTexas A &M Foundation, Acct 72635, Jack Rollins `46 Sanders Corp. of Cadet Center, TAMU M/S 1400, ' ' • � College Station, TX 77843 -1400 1 . i