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GREENVILLE — The year 2010 started on a sad note locally, as one of Hunt County’s most recognizable names passed away.
Jack Finney, 93, died early Friday morning at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.
Finney was remembered Saturday for his link to Greenville’s history.
“Jack has become an icon over the years in our community,” said Melva Hill, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Texas in Greenville.
“He made a significant difference in people’s lives through his generosity,” added Jack Gray, communications director with the Hunt Memorial Hospital District.
Porter Garner, President and CEO of the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University, described Finney as a great Texas Aggie.
“I’ve been blessed to meet several real legends and I count Mr. Finney among those,” Porter said.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel, 5100 Interstate 30 in Greenville. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Dr. D. D. Sumrall Jr. will be officiating. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family has requested no flowers, but memorials may be made to Bible Teaching Resources, P.O. Box 6611, Tyler, 75711.
Jack Finney, 93, died early Friday morning at Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville.
Finney was remembered Saturday for his link to Greenville’s history.
“Jack has become an icon over the years in our community,” said Melva Hill, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Texas in Greenville.
“He made a significant difference in people’s lives through his generosity,” added Jack Gray, communications director with the Hunt Memorial Hospital District.
Porter Garner, President and CEO of the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University, described Finney as a great Texas Aggie.
“I’ve been blessed to meet several real legends and I count Mr. Finney among those,” Porter said.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel, 5100 Interstate 30 in Greenville. Burial will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. Dr. D. D. Sumrall Jr. will be officiating. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family has requested no flowers, but memorials may be made to Bible Teaching Resources, P.O. Box 6611, Tyler, 75711.
Jack was born in Commerce, Texas on August 15, 1916, to Reginald Horace Finney Sr. and Valma Bracken. He married Lou House in Paris, Texas in 1938.
He is survived by his daughter, Jean Gibbs & husband Walter of Lindale; grandchildren, Stacy Dupell & husband J. R., Denise Davis & husband Bo, Jeff Townsend & wife Holly, Charles Hyde & wife Michelle and Zach Hyde; great-grandchildren, Justin Hyde, Dusty Hyde, Laura (Davis) Curtis, Valerie Davis, Elizabeth Dupell and Jack Dupell and great-great-grandchildren, Luke Curtis and Caleb Davis.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife and daughter, Patty Hyde.
Pallbearers will be Ray Bankston, Bob Dial, Kely Fincher, Hollis Russell, Terry Turner and Bob Walker.
Finney’s name is likely familiar to just about anyone living in Hunt County. One of the county’s most traveled roads, Farm-To-Market Road 1570, is named Jack Finney Boulevard where it passes through the southern part of Greenville.
Examples of Finney’s philanthropy are everywhere and the true depth of his achievements could likely fill volumes.
On his 90th birthday in August 2006, Finney presented $1 million to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District Charitable Health Foundation, the largest single gift that ever made by an individual to a non-profit organization in Hunt County. The funds went toward helping pay for the building named the Lou and Jack Finney Cancer Center.
“That has already benefited hundreds of people in its first year of operation,” Gray said.
In January 2008, Finney donated $500,000 to Texas A&M University-Commerce to help pay for the music building currently under construction on the school’s campus.
The land on which the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library and the Ja-Lu Municipal Swimming pool rest was donated by Finney to the City of Greenville.
Finney helped launch the Greenville Board of Development and was also responsible for the creation of the “Most Worthy Citizen” award, presented each year during the annual Installation banquet of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Greenville Board of Development.
Finney was born in Commerce, grew up in Paris and attended Paris High School and Paris Junior College before attending Texas A&M University in College Station.
Finney was also well known for his allegiance to Texas A&M. He graduated from the university’s Department of Agriculture in 1938, with a degree in Agricultural Administration. He started Finney’s Holsum Bread Company in Greenville and was involved in land development. Later in life, Finney was active in the breeding and showing of Quarter Horses.
In 1953 at age 36, he became the youngest person named to the Texas A&M Board of Directors, now known as the A&M System Board of Regents, serving until 1959. Finney recruited Bear Bryant as head football coach and athletic director of A&M. They became friends and Finney displayed an autographed and inscribed book by the coach among his vast collection of Aggie memorabilia. In 1992, A&M honored the Greenville resident as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is also a Distinguished Alumnus of Paris Junior College.
“He was always there when Texas A&M needed him,” Porter said.
Gray recalled Finney’s involvement with the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville.
“For a number of years, he was making the monthly mortgage payment for the museum, so he kept the doors open there,” Gray said. “He had a real sense of local history and he wanted to preserve that.”
“He is going to be sorely missed not only because of his philanthropic achievements, but because of his generous nature,” Hill said. “He was a character, but that is what made him Jack.”
In a 2006 article in the Herald-Banner, shortly before his 90th birthday, Finney reflected on his accomplishments and the passing of his beloved wife Lou.
“Lou was something special,” Finney said. “When she died, our home tripled in size. There’s nothing like losing your wife, but life keeps going on. You can never be ready for something like that.”
Finney was glad that he made Greenville his home.
“Everything I’ve done through the years, I’ve tried to repay those people that were so nice to Lou and I,” he said. “I’ve tried to do things that would help the people of Greenville.”
Finney said he wanted to be remembered as a man who loved people.
“I could’ve left Greenville when I sold the bakery, but I stayed here,” Finney said. “This is where I was meant to be. The people of this community have helped me so much, and I have so much love for the people of Greenville. I want to do all I can do to continue my life like I was 30 years old. I don’t want to die sitting in a rocking chair. I hope I’ll be doing something worthy on the day I die. And if I had to start all over again, I wouldn’t change anything.”
Finney’s name is likely familiar to just about anyone living in Hunt County. One of the county’s most traveled roads, Farm-To-Market Road 1570, is named Jack Finney Boulevard where it passes through the southern part of Greenville.
Examples of Finney’s philanthropy are everywhere and the true depth of his achievements could likely fill volumes.
On his 90th birthday in August 2006, Finney presented $1 million to the Hunt Memorial Hospital District Charitable Health Foundation, the largest single gift that ever made by an individual to a non-profit organization in Hunt County. The funds went toward helping pay for the building named the Lou and Jack Finney Cancer Center.
“That has already benefited hundreds of people in its first year of operation,” Gray said.
In January 2008, Finney donated $500,000 to Texas A&M University-Commerce to help pay for the music building currently under construction on the school’s campus.
The land on which the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library and the Ja-Lu Municipal Swimming pool rest was donated by Finney to the City of Greenville.
Finney helped launch the Greenville Board of Development and was also responsible for the creation of the “Most Worthy Citizen” award, presented each year during the annual Installation banquet of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Greenville Board of Development.
Finney was born in Commerce, grew up in Paris and attended Paris High School and Paris Junior College before attending Texas A&M University in College Station.
Finney was also well known for his allegiance to Texas A&M. He graduated from the university’s Department of Agriculture in 1938, with a degree in Agricultural Administration. He started Finney’s Holsum Bread Company in Greenville and was involved in land development. Later in life, Finney was active in the breeding and showing of Quarter Horses.
In 1953 at age 36, he became the youngest person named to the Texas A&M Board of Directors, now known as the A&M System Board of Regents, serving until 1959. Finney recruited Bear Bryant as head football coach and athletic director of A&M. They became friends and Finney displayed an autographed and inscribed book by the coach among his vast collection of Aggie memorabilia. In 1992, A&M honored the Greenville resident as a Distinguished Alumnus. He is also a Distinguished Alumnus of Paris Junior College.
“He was always there when Texas A&M needed him,” Porter said.
Gray recalled Finney’s involvement with the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville.
“For a number of years, he was making the monthly mortgage payment for the museum, so he kept the doors open there,” Gray said. “He had a real sense of local history and he wanted to preserve that.”
“He is going to be sorely missed not only because of his philanthropic achievements, but because of his generous nature,” Hill said. “He was a character, but that is what made him Jack.”
In a 2006 article in the Herald-Banner, shortly before his 90th birthday, Finney reflected on his accomplishments and the passing of his beloved wife Lou.
“Lou was something special,” Finney said. “When she died, our home tripled in size. There’s nothing like losing your wife, but life keeps going on. You can never be ready for something like that.”
Finney was glad that he made Greenville his home.
“Everything I’ve done through the years, I’ve tried to repay those people that were so nice to Lou and I,” he said. “I’ve tried to do things that would help the people of Greenville.”
Finney said he wanted to be remembered as a man who loved people.
“I could’ve left Greenville when I sold the bakery, but I stayed here,” Finney said. “This is where I was meant to be. The people of this community have helped me so much, and I have so much love for the people of Greenville. I want to do all I can do to continue my life like I was 30 years old. I don’t want to die sitting in a rocking chair. I hope I’ll be doing something worthy on the day I die. And if I had to start all over again, I wouldn’t change anything.”