Dr. James (Jim) McCall Tipton

Dr. James McCall Tipton, 71, of Woodway, passed away, July 23, 2019.  A Celebration of His Life will be 11:00 am, Saturday, August 17th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.  A Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday, August 16th at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.

James (Jim) was born July 20th, 1948, in Knoxville, Tennessee to James R. and Lois Tipton. He was an excellent student, multisport athlete and Eagle Scout. Jim graduated from Brainerd High School (Chattanooga, TN) in 1966.  He began his collegiate career at Baylor University as a pre-med major and made life-long friends as a member of Kappa Omega Tau (KOT). Due to family health issues, Jim returned home to continue his studies at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) through the ROTC Program where he graduated with various honors in 1971(B.S. Economics). Upon graduation, Jim began his military service in the U.S. Army where he served in the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment (TDY), 75th Army Rangers (TDY), 67th Armor Regiment and as an Assistant G-1, in the 2nd Armored Division as well as Special Operations. He completed his military service in the U.S. Army, after completing his last duty station at Ft. Hood, Texas and was honorably discharged in 1974.

Returning to civilian life, Jim worked as a Treasury Analyst  for the Chicago & Northwestern Transportation Company before resuming his academic studies at the University of Florida (1975-1981) earning three degrees: M.B.A(Finance), M.A. (Economics) and a Ph.D. (Economics).

It was during his graduate study at Florida he met and married Barbara Miller. They were married on June 11, 1976.

From 1980 to 2009, Dr. Tipton was a tenured Associate Professor of Banking and Finance at Baylor University in the Hankamer School of Business (Finance, Insurance & Real Estate). His love for teaching began during the two years he served as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Florida. At Baylor, his teaching specialties were Commercial Banking and Investments of which he taught courses on both the graduate as well as undergraduate level.

During Dr. Tipton’s tenure, he served on many various committees, as well as Faculty Senate (1992-1998), the Graduate Faculty and Director for the Center for Securities Education and Research (1986-1989). From 1985-1992 he served as Branch Manager and Registered Principal, Sun America Securities; was an Industry member, NASD Board of Arbitrators and held Series 3,4,5,7,24 & 63 licenses. In banking, he served as Director, Security Savings Association, FSA, Texarkana (Southwest Plan) as well as Advisory Director, for American Bank of the Mid-Cities, Dallas (1988-89). Other corporate experiences included: owner, T.J. Cinnamon’s Bakery, Waco, TX. (1989-1995), Research Assistant, Florida Public Utilities Research Center and President of Tipton Properties, Waco, TX (1990-2016). He also served as Chapter Advisor for Baylor’s Eta Omega Chapter (1983-1989) Sigma Chi Fraternity of which he was a member and Life Loyal Sig at the University of Tennessee. In addition, he was actively involved with Boy Scout Troop #497, chartered by Baylor University.

He had an unquenchable thirst for learning and study was his passion. If he wasn’t working on a mathematic/ finance problem, reading or playing masters level chess, he enjoyed playing golf and was an avid sports fan following the Baylor Bears, Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Barbara Tipton, of Woodway, Texas; one son, Christopher Tipton; mother, Lois Tipton; sister Kay Segerdahl and two nieces, Kim and Katie Segerdahl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to some of Dr. Tipton’s favorite organizations:

The James M. Tipton Memorial Fund at the Baylor Line Foundation, Baylor University School of Business Finance Excellence Fund, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Boy Scout Troop # 497 and Military Veteran groups (Wounded Warrior Project) or the charity of your choice.

He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.