The West Texan: Be Like Jim!

West Texas A&M University is often referred to as the heart and soul of the Texas Panhandle. That heart is comprised of our dedicated faculty, staff and retirees, some of whom have been connected to the university over many decades.

Photo: This article originally appeared in the Fall '21 issue of The West Texan. Click the image to read the entire issue.

Dr. James K. Owens graduated from WT in 1963, earned his master’s from WT in 1965, then attended Harvard Business School, where he earned his doctorate. After spending five years teaching abroad, he returned home to Canyon to teach at his alma mater.

“This is my school; I belong here,” said Owens, now a professor of finance and the Hodges Professor of Corporate Governance.

Of the many reasons Owens loves Canyon and chose to make it his home, his children were his primary focus, both of whom were adopted from Iran.

“One of the wonderful things about Canyon is that (my children) were only interesting until the next storm rolled through, then they were just part of the framework,” Owens said.

Owens – or “Jim” to those who know him well — has been teaching at WT for more than 43 years and has been giving back to WT for the majority of those years.

“It’s something you simply do. You don’t take from an organization without giving back,” he said.

“It’s a cowboy ethic that goes back many years,” Owens continued. “People would work on ranches for ‘food and found,’ which was about $30 per week plus a place to live. In exchange you would ‘Ride for the Brand.’ That means whatever they needed, you just did it, and if you weren’t happy, you were welcome to move on and find a new brand.”

Owens has been giving back to the University longer than any other donor in WT’s history. Though most of his time and focus are understandably with the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, Owens’ support has been felt all over WT.

“I’ve given to the Alumni Association, the library, President’s Circle and athletics,” Owens said.

Remembering a donation to the women’s golf team, Owens said, “I learned a valuable lesson: Don’t play with those girls. They will absolutely humiliate you with their talent.”

He once had a student in one of his classes who was part of the rodeo team, so they received Owens’ support as well.

It wasn’t until 2008 that WT launched its official faculty, staff and retiree giving campaign, I Am WT. Faculty and staff participation in the campaign makes a tremendous impact on the University’s commitment to excellence, while also playing a vital role in influencing gifts from corporations and foundations.

Owens served as the 2021 I Am WT Campaign spokesperson and graciously allowed the Annual Giving team to challenge all faculty, staff and retirees to “#BeLikeJim.” All donors who pledged a minimum of $20 for the year received a pair of One West-branded socks designed by Tanner Mahan, a WT graphic design student.

“We can’t change the world overnight, but we can change the place where we are,” he said. “It’s not just because it’s home. For me it’s a strong obligation to leave this place better than I’ve found it.”