James "Jim" B. Prewitt

(November 13, 1940 – April 10, 2021)

In the early morning of April 10, 2021, our Lord and Savior welcomed home his good and faithful servant, a titan of a man, James "Jim" Prewitt.

Blessed with a big heart and a generosity of spirit tucked behind an occasionally gruff exterior, Jim was a dear and loyal friend, father, and grandfather. A born raconteur with a Midas touch in business and bass fishing, he loved nothing more than a good laugh and the chance to remind you that, "fast nickels are better than slow dimes." And, if you ever found yourself riding shotgun while he drove like a proverbial bat out of hell from point A to point B, using his one arm to cradle his cell phone, nurse on his Mountain Dew, take notes on his pad, and point out all the flowering plants you couldn't really see whizzing by at 90 MPH, you were left with little doubt that the Good Lord had a purpose on earth for Jim Prewitt.

One of those purposes was helping others. We'll never really know how many student scholarships he made possible; how many worthy non-profit and church projects he underwrote; how many funerals he quietly handled; how many times he donated the flowers or the plants to make a special setting or place look just so; or the times he showed up unannounced, to give comfort and support to friends in need.

While no man is perfect, Jim Prewitt always gave way more than he took. He never missed a chance to plant seeds in the lives of others or organizations and took great pride watching the seeds take root and grow.

Jim Prewitt was born on November 13, 1940 and raised on the family farm and dairy in east Texas near Kirbyville, where values of hard work, determination, and resourcefulness were impressed upon him at a young age. After losing his arm as a boy in a farming accident, he made up his mind that it would never deter him in life or work, and that it never did. He gained a deep appreciation for agriculture which he pursued in his chosen profession as a nurseryman, tree farmer, and agri-businessman, where his word was his bond, his customers his friends, and his success never taken for granted.

Eager to expand his horizons, Jim set off to see Texas and the U.S. when he proudly served as the Texas FFA President in 1959-60 and then in 1961-62 as a National FFA Vice President, two prominent roles that profoundly shaped his life.

While attending Sam Houston State University, he met the love of his life, a vivacious, spirited, Mexia-raised beauty named Paula Biggs, with whom he shared 58-years of marriage, three beautiful daughters, and a bevy of bright and talented grandchildren.

Paula was his ever present companion and faithful counselor, his business partner and brightest light, the force beside and behind him who lovingly raised their family and helped him build a life, business, and legacy of service.

Jim was given an opportunity to work as a congressional intern in Washington D.C. That formative experience engendered an abiding interest in policy and politics that later compelled him to fund similar Internship programs at Texas Tech and Texas A&M Universities.

After a stint working for U.S. Brass, Jim felt the call to return closer to his roots and started Landmark Nurseries, Inc. As the CEO, he steered the company from initially providing residential and commercial landscaping services to ultimately opening the first of his wholesale nurseries in Garland, Texas. Under his visionary leadership, Jim and Paula, along with son-in-law, Kevin Norris, and their many beloved, faithful employees, Landmark Nurseries, Inc. has evolved into one of the largest, wholesale nursery distributors and growers in the southern United States.

Always one step ahead of the marketplace, Jim's vision and business acumen compelled him to acquire and launch a biological products company called CX International (CXI), an agri-business venture focused on soil health, waste management, and bio-remediation.

Defined by a world view firmly nested in hard work and dogged independence, Jim was also a grower and a steward, not just of his trees and plants, but of people, particularly young people. Over the years, his quiet and boundless generosity enriched the lives and furthered the opportunities of thousands of kids in FFA and 4-H programs.

Down time was not a phrase that could be found anywhere near Jim Prewitt. But, when it did happen to sneak up on him, it was almost always enjoying time with his family, grandchildren and their friends at the Prewitt's beautiful tree farm, lodge, and country retreat on the Sabine River near Grand Saline.

Fishing, boating, frying fish, eating Crave popcorn, doing puzzles, and enjoying the area's woods and waters were treasured pursuits.

Jim's service and leadership on non-profit boards was a highly sought after commodity, and he gave it generously to many organizations. Among them, were his time as President of the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Foundation and as the Chairman of the TALL Advisory Board, Chairman - Texas Nursery and Landscape Association Political Action Committee and a former Board member. He was a founding member of the Floriculture Chair Advisory Board at Texas A&M and served on the Texas A&M College of Agriculture Development Council, founding member of the Matador Institute for Leadership Engagement and served on the Texas Tech College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Advisory Board. He was the Chairman of the Auction Committee at the State Fair of Texas. He also valued his past service as a member of the Texas 4-H Board of Trustees, Texas FFA Foundation Board, National FFA Sponsors Board and the Board at Happy Hill Farm. Jim and Paula were also proud supporters of the Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo, San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo, Dallas Summer Musicals, and a litany of other worthy charities.

Not surprisingly, Jim was honored with many awards during his life including the prestigious TNLA Arp Award, the TALL Lifetime Achievement Award, Texas Tech Gerald W. Thomas Outstanding Agriculturist award for Agribusiness and the Texas Tech MILE Excellence in Leadership Award.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Carl Everett Prewitt and Ottis Horn Prewitt, his daughter, Kelly Prewitt Stewart, and his son-in-law, Blake Davis. He is survived by his wife Paula; his daughters, Kim Norris and husband Kevin and Carol Davis; his son-in-law Jason Stewart; nine amazing grandchildren, Tatum, Jill, and Cate Norris; Cole and Meg Davis; Will, Ben, Sam, and Ella Stewart; and his siblings, Everett Prewitt, Elizabeth (Betty) Richardson, Hilda Prewitt, and Elton Prewitt (Kerza).

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Rockwall Monday, April 19th at 2:00pm.

The family suggests Petals Florist in Plano for flowers and memorial gifts be directed to the TALL Foundation/Mr. Jim Prewitt Memorial Fund -- TALL Foundation, 2137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2137 (tall.tamu.edu), Texas Tech Foundation, Inc., Jim Prewitt Memorial Fund for the MILE (Matador Institute for Leadership Engagement) Program in the College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources/Box 45025, Lubbock, TX 79409 https://donate.give2tech.com//?fid=IA000849

The Jim Prewitt Memorial Fund at the State Fair of Texas Youth Auction

(http://bigtex.com/JimPrewittMemorial), or to one's charity of choice.

Jim Prewitt TNLA Scholarship Endowment:  TNLA Foundation 7730 S. IH 35 Austin, Texas 78745
https://texasnurserytxassoc.wliinc26.com/donations/erfoundation.aspx