T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
Christmas 2020 with Martha, J.W., Kathy holding B.B. and James Bramlett at the Bramlett home.
Bramlett Field was dedicated in 2018 by Texarkana A&M University-Texarkana in honor of James Bramlett for his service and committment to the community. Pictured is James Bramlett, Michael Galvan, Dr. Emily Cutrer and the 2018 softball team.
“ I toldmy son, J.W., that I’m living the best life, and it’s right here in Texarkana. ” —James W. Bramlett
“The idea actually started in 1991 with Paula Jeans,” Bramlett explained. “She was the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) for Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) at that time, and it came about through her dad passing away the previous year. The staff anonymously collected five baskets of food for five families who were employees at TWU. It started there and has just grown and grown through the years.” “Then in 1998, a city employee (Laurie Williams) came to me and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if you, as
we can hit 200 baskets. I really think we’re going to hit 150 this year.” For the past 16 years , Bramlett has also served in the banking industry, drawing on the relationships he has built through the years and the business skills he developed starting as a paperboy. In March 2012, Bramlett, serving as Senior Vice President, helped Farmers Bank and Trust open a location in Texarkana on Summerhill Road. He now serves as the Texarkana Market President. “There were only five of us
the mayor, did this as the Bramlett Beans and Cornbread Fundraiser and we invited the community?’ I always wanted to do something to give back. When we officially started the community fundraiser, it was just our staff baking the beans, baking the cornbread and baking the desserts for about four years. Then it grew so much that we had to figure out another way. So, we started getting sponsors.” “Our event on December 2, 2021, will mark our twenty-third year. We missed last year because of COVID. It would not be possible without the sponsorship from Big Jake’s BBQ, Texas High donating the cornbread and Starbucks doing the coffee, desserts and drinks. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate their sponsorship all these years. And then we have the staff of volunteers who help each year, and without them coming together, it wouldn’t happen.” “This year is the first time we will have it at the Texarkana Convention Center, and we really appreciate them for allowing us to bring Bramlett Beans and Cornbread right here near I-30, because the traffic count is going to be so much higher here than at the Southwest Center.” “We now serve over 100 families from the community each year with food baskets that include a month’s worth of food and Christmas gifts. The agencies give us a list of families who meet the criteria of eligibility for the baskets. I’m hoping before long that
originally when we started, and now we have over 85 employees. It is a fifth-generation, family-owned bank. It’s just a great place to be and a really great fit for me.” While he was at work on a normal day in 2018, his good friend and TAMU-T Athletic Director, Michael Galvin, asked Bramlett if he could ride with him by the Spring Lake Park ball fields to show him some things they were working on. When Bramlett and Galvan arrived at the same field where Bramlett played Little League, he was surprised by his family and dozens of colleagues and community members who had gathered to surprise him with the dedication of Bramlett Field at Spring Lake Park. The field had been updated for the TAMU-T Women’s Softball team with state-of-the-art lighting and a new scoreboard with James Bramlett’s name. “Spring Lake Park really means a lot to me
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because that’s where I asked Kathy to marry me, my paper route was through that area, I grew up on Park Circle and I attended Spring Lake Park Elementary school,” Bramlett shared. “I wouldn’t have ever expected that.”
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