James Dean Higdon, better known as "Jim," was born in Franklin, North Carolina, on September 21, 1924. Jim's parents were Vernon Dean and Jeter Conley Higdon. He completed high school in Franklin; served three years with the Army in the European Theater during World War II; earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, 1949; and then worked as a machine designer and tool maker for R. G. LeTourneau until 1957. He was employed by Coats and Clark Thread Company in Toccoa, Georgia, as supervisor of Plastic Injection Molding until 1962 at which time he was employed by the Georgia Department of Education to teach Mechanical Technology at the North Georgia Technical School, Clarkesville, Georgia. After teaching two years, he was promoted to the position of Principal. Jim earned a Master's Degree in Industrial Education at the University of Georgia in 1967 and completed 35 quarter hours toward a Ph.D. in Administration.
Jim's wife is the former Betty Louise Phillips of West Virginia. In his spare time, Jim enjoyed designing and building special purpose machines, gardening, beekeeping, making walnut furniture, and square dancing.
This is Jim's family line:
- Leonard Higdon of Anson County, N.C.
- His son Leonard Higdon (1754-1834), a Revolutionary War soldier of Anson County, N.C.
- His son Leonard Higdon (1795-1818)
- His son William Huffman Higdon (1816-1903)
- His son Joseph Huffman Higdon (1838-1909)
- His son James Leonard Higdon (1870 - 1949)
- His son Jeter Conley Higdon (1895-1975).
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