James Thomas King

James Thomas King was born March 16, 1940 in Drumright, Oklahoma. He was the son of Thomas H. and Edith King. Jim moved with his family at an early age to Stillwater, where he attended school, graduating from Stillwater High School in 1958.

Upon graduation from high school, Jim enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Navy. He served during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1960. He then returned to Stillwater, where he attended Oklahoma State University for a couple of years. While attending college, Jim was married to Jimmie J. Stegelman in Stillwater on April 1, 1961. They made their initial home in Stillwater as Jim began his career in law enforcement as a police officer for the City of Stillwater.

In 1965, Jim was selected to attend the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy. Upon graduation, Jim was initially assigned as a Patrolman to Troop C in Muskogee. He later served in Troop D in McAlester, Troop A in Del City, before being assigned to Troop K in Pawnee. Jim was selected as Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper of the year in 1985. He retired as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1987 after twenty-two years of public service.

After his retirement from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Jim accepted employment as a Law Enforcement Coordinator for Central Tech in Drumright, Oklahoma. During his tenure with Central Tech, Jim traveled over the entire State of Oklahoma conducting training for police departments. In 1992, Jim was selected as Teacher of the Year of Marketing Education in the State of Oklahoma. He retired in May 2002 from his position with Central Tech.

For the past two years, Jim has been a involved on a volunteer basis as a presenter for Operation Lifesaver which is a national, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way. Recently, Jim the Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver (OKOL) Trainer and Presenter was named as the winner of the Tom Roberts Memorial Award, emblematic of the most outstanding volunteer in the national Operation Lifesaver Organization. Jim was involved in all areas of Operation Lifesaver activities including being a Presenter Trainer, a Grade Crossing Collision Investigation Trainer, and a member of the OKOL Advisory Council. Jim spent over 500 volunteer hours promoting safety at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way. He was honored last year as one of the two OKOL Presenters of the Year.

Additionally, Jim has served on the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement Board and a former council member and mayor of the City of Cleveland. His hobbies included collecting model trains, stamp collecting and woodworking. He was known throughout the area as a compassionate and caring man who loved to help anyone in need.

Jim passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2005 at his home in Cleveland at the age of sixty-four years, ten months and six days. He was preceded in death by his father.

Jim is survived by his wife of forty-three years, Jimmie of the home; two sons, James and his wife, Christine of Glenpool, Oklahoma and Clayton King of Seattle, Washington; five grandchildren, Jasen Perry King of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Nickolas Lee King of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Casey Frank of Detroit, Michigan, Erica Frank of Glenpool, Oklahoma, and Amanda Frank of Glenpool, Oklahoma; daughter-in-law, Tammy King of Cleveland, Oklahoma; mother, Edith King of Lexington, Kentucky; sister, Loretta Roberts of Lexington, Kentucky; several nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 26, 2005 at the First Christian Church in Cleveland with Chaplain Sam Garner of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol officiating. Burial will at 3:00 pm at the Kingfisher Cemetery in Kingfisher under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit and online obituary and guestbook for Jim King at www.chapman-black.com.