James Neal McCoy of Wichita Falls, Texas, passed away on Friday, October 15 in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 87. By any standard, Jim lived a full and remarkable life.

Born in 1933 in Wewoka, Oklahoma, to Alethea Neal and James J. McCoy, both schoolteachers, Jim concentrated his youthful energies on his studies and learning to play a variety of musical instruments, including the valve trombone that hung in his office.  Graduating from Seminole High School in 1951, Jim earned a scholarship to attend Oklahoma University. He graduated OU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1955. Following his years in Norman, Jim took a job with Gulf Oil. After working for Gulf for several years, at the company's encouragement, Jim returned to school at Penn State University, completing a Master's of Science degree in 1962. That same year, Jim purchased Echometer Company in Wichita Falls, and his extraordinarily successful business career was off and running.

Once Echometer was his, Jim expanded the company's acoustic liquid level instrument into a full Well Analyzer System, significantly improving Echometer's signature product.  Jim held dozens of patents and generously shared his innovations with colleagues in the industry. He also was the author of over fifty scholarly papers on technology and oil well production and a Life Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Jim was the recipient of numerous awards. Recently, the Southwestern Petroleum Short Course Association, in conjunction with Texas Tech University, created The McCoy Award, a Lifetime Contribution honor to be given to those, who like Jim, provided "exceptional service and guidance" to the organization.

Following the success of Echometer, in 1995, Jim established the James N. McCoy Foundation. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided support and financial assistance to a wide variety of educational, healthcare, and crime prevention organizations.

Though he did not attend Midwestern State University, Jim's generosity toward the institution was particularly noteworthy. Because of Jim's pledge of financial support, MSU president Dr. Jesse Rogers convinced the Texas Legislature in 2004 to approve a mechanical engineering program at the university, a rarity at a smaller institution. In 2018, in recognition of Jim and his wife, Vicki's, generous, multiyear pledge, MSU Texas approved the naming of the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering

But Jim was much more than an engineer and a philanthropist. He had a wide variety of other interests. A lifelong lover of tennis, Jim frequently attended the US Open with Vicki, and he was an active player into his early eighties.  Until a few years ago, Jim had a long-standing Sunday afternoon match with buddies Barry Morrison, Larry Wiggins, and Gary Oatman. Jim also was a consistent and generous supporter of the MSU Texas tennis program.

An avid aviator, Jim owned a number of planes over the years. He took his first airplane ride at a Seminole County Fair at age five and later logged over 15,000 hours of flying time, a remarkable amount for a private pilot.  Jim loved the freedom of hopping into his Cessna, flying to Kansas for Echometer business and being home in time for dinner with his wife.

Jim had a wide variety of friends, and Jim's annual "surprise" birthday party, organized by Vicki, was a testament to how much his friends loved him.  Each year, fifty or so of Jim's friends would gather on December 10 at a local eatery to show their love and respect for him.

Those who knew Jim recognized that his life changed for the better when he married his wife, Vicki. Simply said:  Jim's life was never the same. He blossomed under Vicki's supportive love. Their relationship lasted over thirty years, and they were rarely apart. (Not only did Vicki get Jim to enjoy leisure travel and fine dining, but she also even managed to convince Jim to join her on trips to the grocery store, something that shocked his friends.)

Jim is survived by his wife, Vicki McCoy; son, Mark McCoy, and wife, Carol, of Beaumont, Texas; daughter, Melinda Dixon of San Diego, California and grandchildren, Steve Dixon, Danika Jordan, Derrick McCoy, Katie McCoy and Staci Rogers; and five great grandchildren, niece, Becky Cragin, and husband, John, of Willow Street, Pennsylvania; nephew, Danny Hays, and wife, Donna, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; sister-in-law, Gisele Ferguson, and husband, Tracey, of North Richland Hills, Texas; sister-in-law, Barbara Hennelly, of Frisco, Texas; sister-in-law, Tracey Lowery, and husband, Gary, of McKinney, Texas; brother-in-law, Paul Hennelly, and wife, Katherine, of McKinney, Texas, and many adoring nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn McCoy Hayes and her husband, Jimmy Hayes.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace, 2601 Lansing Blvd, Wichita Falls, Texas. A private graveside burial for the family will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the following:  MSU Texas McCoy School of Engineering Scholarship Fund, 3408 Taft Blvd, Wichita Falls, TX 76308, Wichita Falls Crime Stoppers, 610 Holliday, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, TX  76310