Dr. Jim L. Kidd, 87, of Amarillo, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Dallas, Texas.
A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Gil Lain, pastor of Paramount Baptist Church, will officiate. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Dr. Kidd was born to Wesley C. and Della Elizabeth (Kate) McEntire Kidd in Hamlin, Texas on March 14, 1928. He was the youngest of eight children. Jim attended public schools in Hamlin, Texas, dropping out during the war to work as a brakeman for the Santa Fe Railroad. Two years later, he returned to school and graduated from Hamlin High School in 1948. He graduated from the University of Texas, Austin, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1951 and a Master’s degree in Education in 1952. He received a Ph.D in Educational Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1967.
Jim married Sue Carole Kagler in San Antonio in 1949. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 47 years, in 1996; and his beloved granddaughter, Kelsey Lauren Kidd, in 2005.
Survivors include three children, Jimmy Michael Kidd and wife, Vicki, of Austin; Melissa Ann Herber and husband, David, of Dallas; and Christopher Merrill Kidd and wife, Ann, also of Dallas. Jim had eight grandchildren, Joshua Kidd and wife Christine; April Kidd Godina and husband, James; Katie Kidd; Benjamin Herber and wife, Rachel; Caroline Newsom and husband, Jonathan; the late Kelsey Kidd, Samuele Kidd and Elizabeth Kidd. Great-grandsons include Dylan and James Godina, and Reid Newsom.
Dr. Kidd began his career in education in 1952, as an art teacher.  He taught at Elizabeth Nixon Junior High, Stephen F. Austin Junior High School and Amarillo High School in Amarillo.  In 1956 he became the principal of Morton High School in Morton, Texas, returning to Amarillo in 1958 as assistant junior high school principal, and later as principal at Bowie Junior High School. In 1963, at the age of 35, he was selected as the first principal of Caprock High School. Upon receiving his doctorate in 1967, he served as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education of the Amarillo Public Schools. In 1969, he was selected as Associate Professor of Education at West Texas A&M University. He later served as Head of the Department of Secondary Education and as Dean of the College of Education. In 1975, he became Associate Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency in Austin. Dr. Kidd returned to West Texas A&M University in 1981 as Professor of Education and served as Dean of the College of Education and Social Sciences from 1985 to 1991. He retired from WTA&MU in 1991.
Jim was a member of Paramount Baptist Church and was a life member of Texas Exes, the National Education Association and the Texas State Teachers Association. He also held memberships in Texas and Amarillo Retired Teachers Associations, and the Order of the Red, Red, Rose. He enjoyed working with elementary students as a HOST volunteer. Although he felt that serving as the first principal of the Caprock Longhorns and as dean at West Texas A&M were two of the most important professional accomplishments, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with students and faculty, ranging from grade seven through graduate school.
Jim loved and valued spending time with his family and was always the life of any family gathering with his quick wit and keen sense of humor. He always enjoyed returning to Hamlin for reunions and visiting with childhood friends. He was a talented artist, genealogist, computer programmer, avid reader, and dedicated volunteer. Being an enthusiastic football fan, he faithfully followed the Caprock Longhorns, U.T. Longhorns, and the Dallas Cowboys. His forty-year love of camping in the family Airstream has been passed down to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandsons.
The family extends their gratitude to special people that enriched Jim’s later years, neighbor, Danny Flippo; Gaylia Cochran; Silverado, Presbyterian Village North, and Acappela, Dallas; and Dr. Diana Kerwin.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Jim and Sue Carole Kidd Scholarship Fund at West Texas A&M University. Address: WT Foundation, WT Box 60766, memo: Kidd Scholarship.
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. We extent our sincerest condolences to the family. He was my principal at Caprock HS when I first entered the Amarillo system. I enjoyed working with him. He was a fine man even with the “orange” in him.
Hoyt Lovelace, Fort Worth, TX
Our prayers go out to the Kidd family. We know it was a hard battle. We watched the family worked tirelessly to ensure Dr Kidd was happy in the tailing years. Hope there is peace and satisfaction for a job well done. We know Dr. Kidd is very proud!
My thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Kidd’s famiy. I had the privilege of going to Bowie Jr. High under his direction and also being in the first freshmen class at Caprock High School. We had so much fun getting to be a part of naming our mascot and colors after Dr. Kidd’s love of UT-Austin! That’s how special he was to all of us. He was highly respected and loved at both schools. I know you will find much comfort in how much he was loved and respected. God bless, Janette Cosper Abraham, CHS class of 1967
My heartfelt condolences go out to Dr. Kidd’s family. Dr. Kidd was a tremendous inspiration to me as a 15 yr. old Caprock high school sophomore after the untimely loss of my father. At a time when students received no counseling or moral support after such tragedies. Dr. Kidd came to our house and spoken to my mother, sisters and me about the importance of being strong and to follow a dream of better education. I could always count on Dr. Kidd through rough times at Caprock until my graduation in 1966. I was inspired by his love for the University of Texas, that I went on to be graduated from UT Austin as a Distinguished Military Graduate and served in the U.S. Army for 25 years retiring with the rank of Colonel. I truly believe that were it not for Dr. Kidd’s support and inspiring motivation, my life might have been much different. He gave me hope and promise at a very dark time. I will never forget a great man shaped so many. Another Longhorn in Heaven is a great thing. My deepest sympathy to Dr. Kidd’s entire family. Their is a place in heaven for this great man. Fondest Regards, Colonel Tony Guillen, Distinguished Caprock Alum- 1988.
I was blessed to have Dr. Kidd as my principal at Bowie Junior High and at Caprock when it opened, graduating in 1966. He touched my life. He cared for all of us, and gave us a great example to follow. God bless the family at this time. Know that you are in my prayers.