With his zest for life, seemingly endless thirst for knowledge, keen wit and myriad of talents, it has been said by friends and family that James Edward Knox (also known as Jim or Jimmy Knox) was the quintessential Renaissance man.

Jim's life began in Beaumont, Texas on July 27, 1937, when he was born to Dean Knox and wife Mary Knox. Raised in a garage apartment, he attended Ogden Elementary, Crockett Junior High and Beaumont High School until 1954, then moved to Houston and completed his education at Stephen F. Austin High School. It was there he met and later married his beloved wife of 44 years, Dorothy Ann Bundrick.

While still in high school, Jim joined the United States Air Force Ready Reserves, 446 Troop Carrier Wing located at Ellington Air Force Base and served in the Air Police Squadron. Upon high school graduation, Jim attended University of Houston College of Business part-time and became a member of Sigma Nu fraternity while working various day jobs. Jim was elected junior class president and later Chief Justice of the Student Supreme Court. In 1960, he was admitted to U of H College of Law and received his Texas Supreme Court license to practice law and admission to the Texas Bar in 1962. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1964, after finishing law school at night while practicing law during the day.

James Knox practiced law full time in the Houston Hobby Airport area until retiring from private practice in 1987 to serve as vice president and general counsel of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., an innovator of international flight arrangements for the burgeoning corporate/business jet travel fleet industry in the United Sates and international markets. As such, he was deeply involved in the development of Universal's international ground handling subsidiaries at airports throughout the world, including the dissolving USSR and its Eastern European satellite countries, China and Hong Kong, Singapore and Western Europe. (He loved to tell stories of his eye-witness accounts in Communist Russia and contrast the life and condition of its people with that of those living in the West).

Aviation and piloting were among Jim's many passions. While in high school, he worked as a "ramp boy" at Beaumont airports to earn pilot instruction time and first soloed an airplane at age 16. After graduating from law school, Jim resumed his flight instruction and subsequently received his private pilot license in 1964 and instrument rating in 1967. He flew his own aircraft for business and personal travel — including countless trips to his beloved ranch in Calvert — and for continuous pursuit of excellence in pilot skills. In 2016, the Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Authority awarded Jim with the prestigious "Wright Brothers Master Pilot" award in recognition of his professionalism and skills demonstrated during 50 years of accident- and incident-free flying with over 3,000 hours as pilot in command. Jim was proud to be admitted to membership in "Ye Olde and Ancient Order of the Quiet Birdmen," an exclusive organization of aviators formed by WWI and airmail pilots in 1924. He was also a member of UFO Pilots, an organization of octogenarian pilots who piloted after age 80.

Ever-inquisitive, Jim had many interests and recognized their benefits in alleviating the stresses of practicing law. One was artistic painting, which he pursued until weekends of farming and ranching in Calvert began to occupy more of his time. Cattle ranching and Jim's wonder and love of nature led to his expertise in matters of agronomy and grasses, and he became a licensed herbicide applicator. Jim seemed to be a natural born poet, as his prose would often lapse into verse, to the delight of friends. To round out his curiosity about the world, Jim and his wife Lee-Ann traveled often, exploring differing cultures and ways of life. In one memorable trip, they enjoyed many pleasant weeks of adventure traversing by ferry boat and rental cars visiting the islands of Greece and the Aegean and Libyan Seas.

At age 80, Jim was diagnosed with terminable lung and heart disease and retired to his ranch where he peacefully passed away on September 20, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Lee-Ann Walden, daughters Terry Knox Haines (preceded in death by her husband, David Haines) and Jacque Knox Redus and her husband, Brent Redus; grandchildren Chris Haines, his wife Natalie Haines, Jacque Haines and her husband Thorin Wright, Jessica Haines, William Haines, Molly Redus Jennings and her husband Christian Jennings and Natalie Redus. Jim also leaves behind four great grandchildren: Penelope Davis, Amelie Haines, Wilder Haines and Judah Jennings.

Services in honor of Jim's remarkable life will be held at 1:00pm., Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Peevey Funeral Home, 12440 Beamer Road in Houston. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the charitable organization of the donor's choice.