James Lecil Huffines, Jr

James Lecil "J.L." Huffines, Jr., 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Dallas on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was born July 8, 1923, in Mexia, Texas to James Lecil Huffines, Sr. and Jewell Mae Harwell Huffines. The automotive business founded by his father in 1924 grew to eight dealerships in Plano, McKinney, Denton and Lewisville. Huffines acquired his own dealership in Commerce Texas in 1951. After the war he returned to Texas A & M University where he finished his degree in 1947. Immediately after purchasing his first dealership he was recalled to military service for the Korean War with the 66th Tank Regiment. In addition to the automobile dealerships, he was active in ranching and many other businesses. Over his career he served as the full-time, active president of Citizens National Bank in Greenville as well as later the president of Bank of Dallas. He also served as the chairman of the Board of Directors for both of those banks in addition to, at times, Arlington National Bank, North Texas Bank of Lewisville, and American National Bank of Plano. He was a partner with H.R. Bright in the ownership of the Dallas Cowboys football team. He is survived by his wife, Sydney, his four sons and their wives, James and Patty, Ray and Ann, Phillip and Holly, and Donald and Mary Catherine. Also surviving are his step-son and his wife, James and Lynette Thweatt, his step-daughter, Becky Thweatt and eighteen grandchildren.