James Henry Dugan

James Henry Dugan, of Groesbeck, passed away Thursday, May 13, 2010, at the Groesbeck LTC, at age 83. Visitation will be Saturday, May 15, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Services will be Sunday, May 16, 2010, at 2:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Greg Sackett officiating. Burial will follow at Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Blake Stone, Will Stone, Shawn Henderson, Bryant Coleman, Keith Tumlinson, and Billy Pavelka. James Henry was born on October 6, 1926 to Henry Lee and Velma Vivian (Willard) Dugan at Groesbeck. His mother gave all four of her sons nicknames, and Sweetie was the name which she and his family and friends called him all his life. He grew up and attended school at Prairie Point, with Marion McGee as the teacher. James was drafted into the Air Force in January 1945, and served through November 1946, spending some of the time in Japan. After the Air Force, he learned welding as a trade in Mexia. He bought the Texaco Station in Groesbeck, and also drove a cattle truck on the side. Also, in his spare time, he started building his first trailers in 1959. James was united in marriage with Gloria Samford in 1960, and became a father to her two girls, Debbie and Judy. Another daughter, Lesa, was born of this union in 1962. James and Gloria and the girls continued building trailers in their garage until he sold the Texaco and officially started Dugan Trailer Company as a full-time business in the mid-60's. Dugan Trailer Co. built thousands of well-known gooseneck livestock trailers, which were sold and shipped all over the United States and overseas. Some of his more famous customers included Terry Bradshaw, Hadley Barrett,Buck Taylor of Gunsmoke, and Meadowlark Lemon of the Harlem Globetrotters. In the peak period in the 70's, they were employing about 30 people and building around 100 trailers a month in an assembly line. James Dugan provided a lot of people with good job opportunities in Groesbeck and is still remembered with appreciation by many. James loved animals. He brought the Dutch Belted (oreo) cows to Limestone County, purchasing his first ones from Johnny Watkins of KWTX fame. He raised and bred paint horses, and was a good rider, although riding caused him to break the same arm three different times. His favorite horses were Moe and Fly Peppy. He also had fun trying to raise buffalo and zebras. James was recognized in the past few years for his signature yellow color of his trucks, trailers, and pasture gates. When he bought his first Ford “Amarillo” yellow truck, he changed everything he owned from the previous red to yellow. The last few years, he enjoyed riding around in his truck with his friend Jeanie, listening to gospel songs on Sunday mornings, feeding cubes, and looking at his cattle and horses. He entered Groesbeck LTC a few months ago due to a brief illness. He will be well remembered by his family for his love and generosity. James was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Lee (Buster) and Velma Vivian (Willard) Dugan; a brother, H. L. Dugan, Jr.; and his employee and life-long friend, Herbert Ehlers. He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Lesa and Kevin Stone of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Billy Pavelka of Aquilla; daughter, Debbie Vice of Garland; former wife, Gloria Dugan of Aquilla; grandsons, Blake Stone and Will Stone of Groesbeck; grandson, Shawn Henderson and wife Kacie of Lorena; grandson, Richard Pavelka and wife Candice of Elm Mott; granddaughter, Gina Giesen and husband Gary of Godley; granddaughters, Brandi Vice and Charity Vice of Garland; two brothers, Lonnie Dugan and wife Bonnie of Groesbeck, and W. A. Dugan of Groesbeck; special friend, Jeanie North of Riesel; and several nieces and nephews, and many friends.