James C. Tripplehorn

After a valiant fight against disease James C. (Jim) Tripplehorn succumbed at his home on January 5, 2004, at the age of 92. Just as he met every other challenge in his life, he fought cancer head on and uncomplaining, amazing the physicians with his determination.Jim was born of April 11, 1911 in Tilbury, Ontario, Canada to David R. and Eva Whitman Tripplehorn three years after they had moved to Canada from Ohio. As a drilling contractor, his father was one of the first oilmen to do offshore drilling in Lake Erie. After moves to Chattum and later Wichita, Kansas the family settled in Fort Worth, Texas. While the family business had been primarily in the Ranger and Breckenridge oil fields, it was moved to the Panhandle area in 1929, the year Jim graduated from Fort Worth Central High School in Fort Worth. After working summers in the oil fields, he graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in petroleum engineering and a minor in chemical engineering. While in college he was very active in athletics, was a member of the "T" Association, and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Upon his graduation in 1934, Jim settled in the Panhandle to work full time with his father. Several years later his brother Bob joined them and they later formed the Tripplehorn Oil and Gas Companies. Jim retired from Tripplehorn Oil & Gas in 1974.During World War II he was superintendent of the ammonium nitrate plant at Pantex. That division mixed the ammonium nitrate with TNT and poured it into 2000 pound bombs. Here Jim was able to draw on his experience with liquid and jelly forms of nitroglycerin, which was used to shoot oil wells. He remembered with satisfaction that there were no accidents during his time with Pantex!He met his future wife, Anna Mae Gotcher, while working in Pampa and living at the old Adams Hotel. They were married in Amarillo on June 15, 1939, and honeymooned for the following month in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado. That began a love for travel that continued a lifetime. With his wife Anna Mae at his side, they traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, the South Pacific Islands, Central and South America, Alaska, Europe, Russia and all over the continental United States. Learning about new places and people was something that continued to interest Jim.Strong interests in hunting and fishing took a back seat around 1952. While hunting in Colorado a year earlier Jim suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the leg. After a year in a cast a friend gave him a set of golf clubs with the advice that walking the course would be good exercise for his stiff leg. The therapy was so successful that at 85 he could still shoot his age on the golf course. Of course his friends didn't like to play with him because he won so often!Jim loved to work and was not satisfied if he didn't have a project to work on. He could be counted on to help family and friends any time he heard a hint that help was needed. He stressed the value of honesty and hard work to his children and his grandchildren. One grandson remembers being taught by his granddad that there are no problems, only challenges and solutions. When interviewed by his granddaughter Holly for a college project, Jim summed up his life experiences saying, "Yes, I have had a very satisfying and full life. There have been a few rough spots, but I worked through those."Although he will be missed daily he leaves a family who is stronger for having known him and who are blessed with values and principles to live by. As one grandson told him he was "a hell of a man, like no other." He set the pace and the standard for those who follow him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, David R. and Eva Tripplehorn, his brother Bob and one sister, Goldie Brooks. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Anna Mae, a son John Tripplehorn and wife Susan, a daughter Anne Lusk and husband Glynn, five grandchildren : James D. Tripplehorn, Kelly Tripplehorn, Matt Hinton, Ross Hinton and Holly Sheridan; and four great grandchildren; a sister, Bettye Moulton of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and, by extended family two step-grandchildren with an additional 8 great grandchildren; and of course his many lifelong friends here in Pampa.Memorials may be made to Khiva Memorial Fund, Box 328, Amarillo, TX 79105 or BSA Hospice, 800 N. Sumner, Pampa, TX