The Life and Legacy of Jimmy Pappas
Born in 1959 in the Flushing, Queens neighborhood of New York City, James Plato “Jimmy” Pappas went on to graduate from Memorial High School in Houston, Texas before joining the Texas A&M University Fightin’ Aggies class of 1981 and obtaining an MBA from St. Thomas University. A loving husband, father, businessman and community leader, Jimmy’s battle with cancer ended in 2011. It the wake of his passing, several of his close friends came together to ensure his philanthropy goals lived on, alongside the adventurous memories he left behind, through the annual celebration of the Jimmy Pappas Memorial Shoot.
With family, faith, friends and giving back as his greatest priorities, Jimmy approached everything with an unmistakable passion for life. Whether he was racing offshore powerboats, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, cooking, driving his convertible or waxing poetically about the social worth of lawyers, he was always “all in.”
Inspired to become a developer by memories of touring land with his father, Jimmy would go on to be instrumental in the creation of many well-known master planned developments in Houston including New Territory, First Colony, City Centre and Spring Trails. Jimmy had a strong work ethic and contagious enthusiasm for every project he took on. An active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Urban Land Institute, Jimmy also served on the Board of Directors of the Utility District Advisory Corporation, the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 35 and the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Spring Valley. Jimmy was also a dedicated member of his church, serving on the board of trustees.
Always eager to give back to the communities he loved, Jimmy was proud to work with the Steer Auction Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Along with raising funds towards youth education, he held many leadership roles on the committee, including heading the Committee Awards Banquet during his own battle with cancer.
Jimmy Pappas lives on in the hearts of family and friends and through this annual gathering to raise funds for the fight against cancer.
