A Loyal Falcon, Indeed

Jim Isaacks  Class of 1940

In August, Jim Isaacks ’40, celebrated his 100th birthday. While celebrating this milestone, he shared a few memories of his early years at Kinkaid. He recalled of being at the School, “It was like a great big, wonderful family.” Jim’s fondest memories are of Mrs. Kinkaid. He shared, “Mrs. Kinkaid was the most wonderful thing to me in the world.” He remembered she was “like a mother onsite to the children” but acknowledges that she was still strict and demanded good scholarship.

Jim’s Kinkaid years were spent at the Richmond campus, a property he remembers for its towering cedar trees. He entered in the sixth grade at a time when Kinkaid was starting athletic programs, including the first football team, hoping to be a draw for area boys. In fact, Jim still has his Kinkaid football jersey!

With a laugh, he admits he got into trouble “a number of times”, and Mrs. Kinkaid was there to help him out of any predicament. Jim remembers back to awards day of his senior year; he did not win a single award and shrunk down in his seat as the program went on. At the end, Mrs. Kinkaid stood up to say that she had an award, one that was being given for the first time. She called it her “Loyalty Award” and announced the recipient was Jim Isaacks. She gave him a book by Zane Grey on fishing, which she knew he loved. When he was walking out the door that day, she stopped him to say there will always be a position at Kinkaid for you as a teacher. Mrs. Kinkaid had watched him closely and saw the sympathy and connection he had with the young children. The thought of this interaction and what it meant to him still brings a tear to his eye today.

All male members of the Class of 1940, pictured above, enlisted for World War II and served as aviation officers. Miraculously all came home safely. Following his service, Jim went on to Baylor University in the fall of 1945 where he reconnected with Nancy, a former neighbor he first met when he was eight. Nancy and Jim were married for 70 years and built their life in San Antonio. Together they had five children who continue to, as Jim says, “fill his life with love.”

That is why we are embarking on a first-of-its-kind alumni oral history project entitled Falcon FlashbacksKinkaid Alumni Oral History Project. Alumni will have the opportunity to share their story in their own words for generations of Kinkaid students and alumni to enjoy. Alumni stories will be documented in a book that will preserve and celebrate the impact of Kinkaid.

More information can be found on the Alumni section of the website or by using this QR code: