A native of the South, James was born in Florence, Alabama on May 23, 1957. He graduated from Sheffield High School in 1975 and attended the University of North Alabama and Alabama A&M on a football scholarship.
In 1979, after leaving college, James began his working career in Seattle, WA as the supervisor of a custom woodshop. During this time he spent most of his evenings volunteering in the community.
In 1990, he took a part-time job with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department as a Recreational Specialist working with at-risk youth and gangs. He also served on a task force, formed by Mayor Norm Rice during the Rodney King riots, charged with the goal of establishing good race relations in Seattle.
In 1991 while working with the Seattle Parks department, he created the first community-based computer lab called Project Compute located at the Rainier Community Center. This program went on to win a Points of Light Award.
In 1992, James was awarded the Outstanding Service Award and The Humanitarian Award by the Seattle Commission on Children & Youth. This award was presented by Mayor Rice for James' work in co-creating the design and implementation of the Late Night Program. As a part of the Late Night Program, James established a project called Drills and Skills which taught youth basic and advanced skills for basketball and for life.
KOMO-TV “For Kids Sake” program honored James as volunteer and Youth Role Model of the Year in 1994 by featuring him in their nationally syndicated program hosted by Steve Pool.
In 1998 James was recruited to serve as the Program Director for City Year Seattle King County.
James has been married to his lovely wife Lois for 31 years. He if the proud father of a 29-year-old daughter, a 17 year-old son and a 12 year old grandson.
