ABOUT JAMES

James “Jimmy” McNeil was such an outstanding running back at Pasadena High School from 1944 through 1947 that droves of patrons regularly showed up to cheer on the Mighty Eagles, which helped fund the first football stadium in Pasadena, located at Pasadena Blvd (formerly Tartar) and Southmore!

After graduating from Pasadena High School, James received an academic scholarship to attend Lamar University. He was perhaps one of the best recruits in LU history, garnering some of the most successful back-to-back seasons. With McNeil starring on offense and on defense, Lamar won 18 games, played in three bowl games and shared a conference championship in what was possibly the nation’s best junior college conference during that era.

James was sensational in 1949 when he scored 108 points, rushed for 1,266 yards and passed for 629 yards as the Cardinals posted a 10-2 record and came within one game of gaining a berth in the Junior College Rose Bowl. An all-conference performer in 1949, James was at his best in the big games. He scored both touchdowns in a historic 14-7 win over Kilgore College, and his winning plays on both offense and defense led to a 28-7 victory over top ranked Tyler Junior College in 1948.

James was named “Little All-American” as a Cardinal football player and was forever enshrined into the Lamar University Cardinal Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

James returned to Pasadena ISD to start his teaching and coaching career at Jackson Junior High School (now Jackson Intermediate). Coach McNeil was named the first athletic director and head football coach at Sam Rayburn High School in 1963 and led his team to a district championship in 1968. McNeil served 15 years as assistant principal at J. Frank Dobie High School and was awarded the school’s highest honor, the Trail Blazer award, for his contributions. James passed away in February 2015, but his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of many for his dedication as a coach, and for being a stellar role model and teacher to many young men throughout his career. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mona Patricia McNeil.