Roll Call Tribute

James McCall Poynor 

December 15, 1927 - July 21, 2021 

James McCall Poynor went to his Heavenly home on July 21, 2021 at the age of 93. James was born on December 15, 1927 to Thomas Clyde and Annie Lorena (Huffman) Poynor in Brady, TX.

Formal education began in Fredonia Public School, and he graduated from Mason High School in 1945. Texas A&M University was his college of choice, and he enrolled there immediately out of high school. James was a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association at Texas A&M and loved riding broncs and bulls. He also joined the Corps of Cadets during his time at college. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War when he was drafted into the armed services and served in the Army from 1950 to 1952 at Fort Leonard Wood. He returned to College Station and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and majored in Animal Husbandry in 1954.

After graduation, James was employed by the USDA Soil Conservation Service for three years before he began studying law in 1958. He worked part time, caring for a family of six while he pursued his law studies for three years. In 1961 he took the Bar Exam and was issued a license as an Attorney and Counselor at Law by the Supreme Court of The State of Texas. A practice of Civil and Criminal Law in Sinton, Tx was carried out from 1961 to 1967. In 1965 he became part owner of the abstract and title insurance company in Sinton, where he was the operator and manager. Around this time, he also served as City Judge for the City of Sinton. Being active status as a member of the State Bar of Texas, he was an approved attorney for two major corporations that write title policies and insure land titles. In 1967 he became employed by Federal Land Bank Association of Robstown and was selected by its Board of Directors to be President and CEO. Retirement came after the merge with the Kennedy Association in 1986. Then in 1991 when the opportunity arose, he was elected Director of the Kennedy Association where he served this position until 2000. He was then appointed to the same position for a three- year term with Capitol Farm Credit. At some point he taught the migrants at Dave Odem School in Sinton, TX.

He married Betty Jane Brown of Sinton, TX in 1955. They shared four children together which he adored. Betty and James loved to fish and hunt together, have family gatherings at their lake house, their daily trips to the pasture to feed cows, and were active members of the First Baptist Church of Sinton. They resided in Sinton until the time of her death in 1994. He then began traveling back and forth from Sinton to Mason to care for his elderly Mother. It was during this time that he reconnected with his friend Mary Kay Reichenau of Mason, TX, and they wed in 1998. He gladly welcomed her son Del Roy (Lynn) and their children into his life. James and Kay loved to play golf together, go dancing, and enjoy suppers with friends. They were active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Mason, TX. They resided in Mason until the time of her death in 2016.

After a major heart attack and open-heart surgery that same year, he recovered in Universal City, TX before relocating to Corpus Christi, TX, where he spent the last five years surrounded by grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Lorena Poynor, brother W.J. Poynor, wives Betty and Kay Poynor, sons-in-law Eldon Mackey and Jimmy Guinn, and a precious granddaughter Desiree Dell Anderson. He is survived by his children Linda (Jim) Cagle of Universal City, TX, L’Dell Guinn of Holladay, TN, Jim Brown Poynor of Corpus Christi, TX, and Desiree (John) Garcia of Corpus Christi, TX, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, and will be remembered mostly for his generosity, patience, and for his love of animals. James McCall Poynor is truly one of a kind, is greatly loved, and will be missed tremendously.