James M. Garza Memorial Scholarship Fund

As a child and teenager, James was known for his good sense of humor, his love of Nintendo and board games, and for his sharpness in the classroom. He was Valedictorian of his class at Belton High School. He studied Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2005. His professional career started in Longview, Texas, with Eastman Kodak and then continued in Deer Park, Texas, when he joined Lubrizol in 2008. James held a variety of engineering and managerial roles during his 14 years at Lubrizol in Deer Park, and most recently served as Operations Support Manager for the plant. What he was remembered most for was his drive to help other engineers develop, grow, and succeed. Across every role, James was known as a strategic thinker, a person committed to developing those around him, and the type of co-worker people would turn to on a hard day. There wasn’t a problem he couldn’t solve with a white board, a dry-erase marker, and 30 minutes. He had an infectious laugh, a bright smile, and made those around them feel welcomed and at ease. So many were impacted by his kind nature, mentoring and coaching through the years - may his giving spirit continue to be felt through this scholorship gift for many years to come.