Basic Information
James Francis Robertson, affectionately called Jim or Jimmy Frank by those close to him, was a man ready and willing to dedicate his life to purpose, love, and the written word. Jim was born on February 28, 1936, in the family of Merritt and James Robertson in Vivian, Louisiana. He grew up in a family full of love and brought up with the instilled values of hard work, faith, and dedication.
Early Life and Education
Jim graduated from Vivian High School, and later continued his education at Louisiana State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Loving his alma mater with a fierce degree of passion throughout his life, he was a proud alumnus of LSU, continuing to pull for those Tigers.
Military Service and Career
Before coming to LSU, a brief portion of his life was his military service to the highest level in the United States Air Force, a true portrait of his sense of duty and patriotism. He later would translate this experience into a successful career in journalism and public relations. It was only after his professional career that he spent countless hours dedicating to this need of writing, incorporating the element of putting pen to paper under the heading of historical fiction. His love of history combined with his skills as a storyteller found a home within such works that not only entertained but also preserved the past for future readers.
Family and Faith
At the core of Jim’s life was a love for God and family. All of them was his guiding light in that travel during the course of life. Jim was a loyal and devoted husband, father, brother, and friend. He has first and foremost been a husband of Connie Robertson for 28 years and shared a loving and respectful life together. Jim was a committed father to his sons: Jim Robertson (husband to Masako), Stephen Robertson (husband to Holli), Matthew Robertson (husband to Su), Quentin Rance (husband to Celeste), David Robertson, and John Robertson. His love and influence live on through his eight grandchildren, whom he was very proud and pleased to know.
Jim had siblings: Tommy Robertson, who was married to Nancy; Phil Robertson, married to Kay; Si Robertson, married to Christine; and his sister Jan Dasher, who was married to Gordon. And, then, there were his sister-in-law Mary Robertson and brother-in-law Jim Gimber. Jim would consider himself lucky to go out with any of his siblings or the brothers-in-law.
According to Phil Robertson, he is an American Hunter and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the said Duck Commander, a multi-million-dollar business that deals with making duck calls and other hunting gear. Sy Robertson, the reality TV star who rose to fame through the Duck Dynasty A&E show, brought their Christian faith together with the uncouth, backwoods existence to the forefront of popular culture. Phil Robertson, with his keen pursuit of family values and outspoken opinions, has become a polemical but influential figure in the subculture of the United States. Woven between the themes of his public life is a narrative quilt of intimate details about his relationship with the extended family, which includes his brother, James Francis Robertson, whose legacy as a journalist, veteran, and author added another notch of distinction to the Robertson name. The Robertson family, with faith-based roots, keeps on impacting greatly in the hunting world and beyond, with Phil Robertson himself standing out like a beacon of the traditional American values and entrepreneur.
A Life Well Lived
James Francis Robertson was more than just a man of accomplishments; he was a man with a kind heart and a larger-than-life spirit. His were the many talents and virtues that friends observed with cultivated awe: his work ethic, his grace in balancing his career, family, and faith, his warmth, generosity, and an infectious enthusiasm for life. Whether Jim was yelling at the Red Sox or engaged in deep conversation over history and literature, he was intensely alive.
Although no one could have ever attempted to measure Jim’s true net worth, he certainly left behind a treasure chest of love, respect, and admiration from family, friends, and community. He will be remembered for his contributions in the field of journalism, service to country, loving dedication to family, and much more.
Final Farewell
Presently, the funeral services for James Francis Robertson shall be conducted commencing at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25th, 2014, at the Elgin Church of Christ, Elgin, Texas. Friends and relatives came to extend their condolences and commemorate the life of a man who surely enriched so many. Burial to take place at Pleasant Grove Cemetery—Final resting place for Jim.
Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, November 24, 2014, at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home. This would enable all those who cared for Jim to pull together, share remembrances, and pay their respects for the family.
In memory of James Francis Robertson, we celebrate a life well lived—a life full of love, full of service, and the written word. His legacy is continued encouragement and reference for all who had the privilege to know him.