James Howard Lennon's Obituary
James Howard Lennon, Sr., passed away in Dallas on Sunday, 12/20/09 at the age of 85. Born 6/30/1924 in Dallas, TX, he was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma Howard Lennon and Chesley Everett Lennon, Sr. He is survived by son James Howard Lennon, Jr. and wife, Rebecca, of Lahaina, HI; daughter, Kelly Gail Lennon of Santa Barbara, CA; grandchildren Heather Lennon O’Dea and husband Jim of Tulsa, OK, James Bryan Lennon and wife Leslie of Dallas; and Hailey Elizabeth Lennon of Santa Barbara, CA; great grandchildren Michael, Abby, Rebecca Claire, Lucy, and Thomas O’Dea of Tulsa, OK; brother Chesley Everett Lennon, Jr. of Dallas; nephew Glen Lennon of Victoria, Australia; and niece Kathleen Lennon Keenan of Buffalo, NY; many great nieces and nephews; and longtime companion Debby Miller of Dallas. Mr. Lennon graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas in 1941. He attended Baylor University where he served as Freshman Class President and was a member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce. Following his freshman year, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was trained as a B-29 pilot and flew combat missions over Japan and in the Pacific Theatre while based on Tinian. Upon his discharge from the military, he returned to Texas and entered the Baylor School of Law where he was active in the Senate Law Society. He remained active with the Baylor Alumni Association where he received the Tower Award and the Carol Award for his contributions. Mr. Lennon practiced law with Fellow Baylor graduate, Tommy French, and later joined the law firm of Jackson, Walker, Winstead, Cantwell and Miller in the Oil and Gas Division where he practiced for over 40 years. In 1977, Mr. Lennon acquired the master lease of the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, which eventually led to the formation of two partnerships, Front Street Properties Associates and Maui Venture, each of which were managed by Mr. Lennon. Mr. Lennon supported many charities and organizations, with particular interest in the Baylor Bear Foundation. He was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas Petroleum Club, The Crescent Club, Brookhollow Country Club, Eldorado Country Club in Palm Springs, CA; the Dallas Bar Association; the State Bar of Texas, and the American Bar Association. Family visitation and interment will take place on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. respectively. A Memorial Service will follow and be held in the Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made in memory of Mr. Lennon to the Baylor Bear Foundation, One Bear Place, Waco, TX 76798, or to the American Heart Association.
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