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Jimmie Wayne Anthony After a long battle with the effects of diabetes leading to renal failure, Jimmie Wayne Anthony passed from life on Thursday, December 30, 2010. Jimmie was born at home in Panola County, Texas on November 5, 1936, to Lucille Margarite (nee Adams) and Vivian Wayne Anthony. He attended elementary schools in Texas as his family moved from job to job in a struggle to make a living at the end of the Great Depression. He was preceded in death by his father in 1943. His mother remarried Douglas M. Linney and the family moved to Farmington, New Mexico in the early 1950's. Jimmie graduated from Farmington High School in 1955 and was active in football and tennis, and participated in 4H, receiving a number of awards for animals entered in the State Fair. Jimmie Linney, as he was known after taking the name of his stepfather, started the University of New Mexico in September 1955. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He met his first wife, Brenda Walker Smith, while attending UNM where he studied pre-law. Before completing his undergraduate degree, Jim joined the Army during his senior year. After basic training in Colorado Springs, Colorado at Camp Carson, he was stationed at a number of locations stateside and did a one year tour in South Korea. Jimmie changed his name back to Anthony just before his marriage to Brenda on April 22, 1961. He left the Army after 2 years of service in order to return to UNM for one semester before being recalled in the Fall of 1961 for the Berlin Crisis. During this return to the Army, his daughter, Michelle Marie Anthony, was born on January 13, 1962. Following his second release from the service, Jimmie and his young family moved to Houston, Texas where he worked as an insurance adjuster and attended the Southwest College of Law. He graduated in 1965 and was in the first class to receive Juris Doctorate degrees from this school. The family moved back to Albuquerque and Jim was accepted to the New Mexico Bar that same year. Jimmie and Brenda divorced in 1971. Brenda survives him. Jim served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1965 until 1972, except for spending 1969 as General Counsel in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dallas, Texas. He was counsel to the Albuquerque Urban Renewal Department headed by Rex Allendar and served under the then City Attorney, Frank Horan. Jim, Rex and Frank, working with Pete Dominici (then Chairman of the City Commission) caused the renewal and redevelopment of downtown Albuquerque. Today's plaza, parking structure, Convention Center, City and County government offices all trace their beginnings to this group of leaders. During this time Jim drafted all the legislation, both state and local, setting the framework for this effort, which many times over the years has won national acclaim. During the Summer of 1971, Jimmie met Ann Redd. They were married on March 10, 1972, and he became stepfather to Ann's two children, Greg and Leslie. Although his professional expertise and involvement in downtown Albuquerque's revitalization was considered by many to be "genius," Jim's real calling was as a volunteer coach for the Young American Football League (YAFL). His team was "The Cowboys" - what else! On August 6, 1973, the first day of YAFL practice, Jim announced with pride that his wife "had cooperated" and delivered their nearly 8 pound son, Matthew James Anthony, early enough to ensure he would not be late for his coaching duties. He was a man who knew his priorities. Ann and Jimmie divorced in 1979, however remained friends throughout his life. He is survived by his step-children and Ann. After leaving employment with the City of Albuquerque, Jim went into the private sector. He became an expert in funding low income and assisted housing projects, especially using State-issued bonds. In the last thirty five years, he successfully developed and constructed $150,000,000 worth of affordable apartment units throughout New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas. The last project he was involved in will be constructed in Farmington, New Mexico by the Volunteers of America. Anyone that ever worked with Jim came to admire his good humor, his willingness to listen, and his wisdom. Jim remained a devoted nephew to his mother's sister, Elizabeth Adams Lewis (Aunt Wooba) and his mother who lived together for many years in Carthage, Texas; the town where his mother's family pioneered after leaving Georgia following the Civil War. His Aunt preceded him in death in 1983 and his Mother passed in 1995. The family draws strength from the fact that the two women who he loved most in his life were waiting to help him cross over. Jim leaves his daughter and her husband, John Peters, and his son, wife Heather and grandsons, Dillin Wayne and Garrett James. He will be missed by his children and grandchildren and the many friends and business associates he gathered over his lifetime. A memorial service has been planned at Jim's favorite place on earth, Vallecito Lake near Durango Colorado, on May 21, 2011. In lieu of cards or flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jimmie Anthony Scholarship Fund of the Young American Football League (a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization), at PO Box 3482, Albuquerque, NM 87190-3482, or by email at yaflpresident@yaflnm.com
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