IN MEMORIAM

DR. TOM JAMES

Bill Hughes

For nearly fifty years I was the NAFV attorney. During this time I met and worked with many wonderful and interesting people, members of NAFV. Many of them became friends, some close. Tom was one of these, high on the list. We had been able to get together from time to time, especially after I moved to Tennessee four years ago.

Tom died on November 3, 2024 at his home in Springfield, Tennessee in an ATV accident in his backyard. Tom had been ill for many years prior to his death, mainly the results of a tick bite, resulting in Ehrlichiosis, contracted while running his beloved beagles.

Tom was undoubtedly the world's expert on the soring of Tennessee Walking horses. Soring is the illegal, but widespread, practice of causing pain to the horses' front feet in order to make them lift their feet higher. Tom was responsible for other employees choosing to become interested and knowledgeable about protecting Tennessee Walking horses from the practice. Tom was also an expert and dedicated to the other missions of Animal Care, including regulating zoos, research facilities and dog breeders.

During most of his career with USDA, APHIS, he worked in VS, REAC, and Animal Care regulating the practice. He was a strict enforcer and this got him crosswise with elements of the powerful Walking Horse industry, certain Tennessee politicians, and especially several APHIS officials who bowed to their pressures. This is how I first encountered Tom, defending him and protecting his career against these powerful adversaries. This was successful, with him receiving over three years of back pay, and an end to negative treatment. In fact the judge ordered that the APHIS official most responsible be disciplined. Tom intervened and said that he did not want to be vindictive, and just wanted to get back to doing his work in Animal Care.

During this extremely stressful four year period, professionally, personally, and financially, Tom never succumbed to the temptation of alcohol, which he had defeated years before. He was one of the strongest persons I have ever known.

His many friends, in and out of government, held him in high respect, enjoyed his contagious sense of humor, his famous singing voice, his variety of interests, and his strong Christian faith.

It was related to me by APHIS AC coworkers about the time in west Tennessee that an dog breeder (of a puppy mill) angry about the agency's regulatory efforts, confronted and attempted to shoot three of them. Tom fought the man and disarmed him, probably saving the lives of his coworkers and himself. The man was arrested and sentenced to considerable time.

Following is a another tribute written by Dr. Gary Brickler, a long term employee of APHIS. He identifies himself further in his tribute. I believe that Dr. Brickler is one of the most highly regarded supervisors and managers that APHIS has ever had. Now retired he had experience in FSIS, and for many years the U.S. military. He had moved on well before the improper effort described above against Dr. James began. Below that is the family prepared obituary, which I have edited slightly, mainly to remove information about survivors and services, already held.

TRIBUTE TO DR. TOM JAMES

Dr. Gary Brickler

My relationship with Tom began in 1978 when I was selected to be the supervisor for the southeast sector of the newly established Regulatory Enforcement and Animal Care program in APHIS. Tom was one of 8 VMOs who volunteered to staff this 7 state area of responsibility. This group working as a team immediately came up to speed to perform and improve the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act mission activities in the sector.

Having practiced in Tennessee and with the walking horse community, Tom was most knowledgeable of the Tennessee Walker industry and dedicated to administering the HPA and providing relief to the horses. Tom became the HPA specialist in the sector, training other VMOs and how to document practices prohibited by the HPA. Tom and his colleagues made my job easy. I only needed to provide them with the resources they required and then to stay out of their way.

In applying the Animal Welfare Act, Tom was an exemplary employee. With absolute knowledge of the regulations and the understanding of their intent, Tom was a leader in the pursuit of the correction of animal mistreatment. When I received calls from licensees and registrants questioning his findings, he was easy to defend and to confirm that he was doing his job and doing it well.

When I left Animal Care to serve as A VIC, then District Director for Veterinary Services, Tom and I continued our relationship, discussing activities in both programs, as well as family updates. As much as I appreciated the work Tom did as an Animal Care VMO, I came to appreciate him even more as a friend. Even after I moved and geography took us in different directions, Tom and I kept in close touch. Once when traveling through Tennessee, I had a vehicle breakdown, Tom came out, recommended a mechanic, arranged a tow, and provided a bed in his home. He was one of a special group of friends who I know I could count on whenever needed. He was good for the profession, good for APHIS, good for the NAFV, good for his friends, and good for his community.

(The Family's Obituary)

CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF

DR. TOM JAMES

Born April 17, 1936; Died November 2, 2024

John Thomas James, 88, passed away from a sudden fall while outside his home in Springfield, Tennessee on November 3, 2024. He was the oldest of 4 children born to Buford Belmont (BB) James and Mildred Dunagan James on April 17, 1936.

Tom was born in McEwen, TN. The life of a preacher's son meant a number of moves during his childhood, but Hohenwald Tennessee always meant home. "Tommy" began senior year in Henderson, TN. There he enjoyed being the new boy in town. He played football, was senior class president, but most importantly met the love of his life, Rose Lynn Witt. A couple of years later, they were married and started their family, having daughter Melanie and four years later their son Mark. Together they worked through many years of financial hardship, pursuing college at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Veterinary School at Auburn. The vet school families and church community at Auburn still hold a special place in the hearts of the James family.

After graduating, Dr. Tom began private practice in Paris, TN where the family lived for 14 years. While there he was active in his church at Eastwood Church of Christ and Henry Church of Christ. Tom and Rose welcomed their third child, Camille, to their family while Tom and Rose build a wonderful life of owning and operating a private veterinary practice filled with many hobbies, family and friends. It was there that Tom was instrumental in starting a bus ministry and breakfast program for community school children, was involved in gospel singing, community theater, horse shows, rodeo events and served as the President of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association.

Doc" was not one to sit still and thoroughly enjoyed his rough and tumble lifestyle. The strength, stamina and painful injuries of his early years would serve him well in his last few years of life. Being kicked by horses, crushed by cows and emergency calls 7 days a week at all hours was the life of a country vet in those good old days. His daughter Melanie was a frequent partner on those excursions.

Tom was known for his big beautiful bass voice. He proudly displayed a framed copy of an invitation to audition with the old Oakridge Quartet, but he made the decision at a young age to devote his life to family instead of life on the road. Through the years, Tom sang with gospel quartets, barbershop quartets, and courses for countless funerals and even a few weddings. He also taught numerous fellow church members how to lead congregational acapella singing, passing his gift along to others who wished to learn.

Tom taught his children the value of hard work and loved nothing more than to get the whole family involved in animal husbandry, large scale gardening, and living following the old ways, whether the family liked it or not! There were run away horse and buggy adventures, plowing fields with horse drawn plows, butter making, worm farming and so much more!

Over the following years Tom would work for the USDA as a veterinarian protecting the Tennessee Walking Horses from the practice of "soring" and inspecting living conditions for research animals, zoo animals, and privately owned exotic animals. There are many stories in the vault for this phase of his career! Just two weeks before his passing, the constipated elephant story came around once again. And how he enjoyed telling it to the hospital staff!

JT, as many knew him, also started 2 more private veterinary practices serving Springfield, Greenbrier and Goodlettsville, TN and kept up his certifications and treating animals on a small scale until he was 83.

Dr. Tom was very proud of his 36 years of sobriety, being a long-time active member of AA. He often hosted meetings in his home and sponsored several recovering members during the hard work of beating addiction. Both Tom and Rose have spent countless hours and have experienced much joy and sometimes heartbreak working with the Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry and Churches of Christ Disaster Relief.

Rose, Tom’s rock remained close by his side and provided the best of love and care during his last few years of declining health.

He will be sorely missed by his loving family and many, many friends.