James William Maney, III
1945 - 2023
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Rest in peace to James William Maney III. A steadfast and faithful friend, brother-in-law, teacher, librarian, academician, devout husband to Lana Kay Evans Maney, Jim passed away on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, 1:08 PM at age 77. He had been in the hospital and rehab since January 31st, 2023, after suffering a debilitating fall.
Jim was born and raised in Oklahoma City by his devoted parents, James William Maney Jr and wife Josephine Doubek Maney. The Maney name is well known in Oklahoma City from his Irish grandfather’s work there and throughout the country, in building railroads, creating mills, being one of the first Knights of Columbus, and so much more. There is in fact a Maney Historic District in Oklahoma City with the original home. What ā background! Jim graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School in 1962. Jim attended the University of Dallas and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor’s in History. Jim, with two of his classmates, were the first known three-year graduates of the University of Dallas. He then completed his Masters in European History in 1967 from the University of Notre Dame. Jim then went on to teach at Biscayne College in Miami (now St. Thomas University) from 1968-1974. From 1974 to 1980 he directed the library at St. Vincent Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. A lifelong learner, Jim then earned a Master’s in Library Science in 1980 from Florida State University. He was then recruited to direct the library at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, and while there, also taught part time at St Mary’s University of San Antonio.
Jim met the love of his life, Lana Kay Evans, at a library conference in Canada, not far from where Lana worked as a librarian at Princeton University. The two shared a love of travel, books, and adventures, as well as great humor! He and Lana were married August 4th, 1983. Jim and Lana were incredible Scrabble players and punsters. They shared great happiness together. Lana passed away far too young, at age 42, from cancer in 1988. In 1991, Jim left academia and worked in the travel industry for twenty-plus years, managing travel contracts for the US Navy. In 2016, Jim retired.
In February of 2019, Jim was unanimously elected to the National Alumni Board of University of Dallas. Jim was the only Board Member that had met every University of Dallas President except the first President of UD, F. Kenneth Brasted. Jim also was a participant in UD’s first ever and continuing Groundhog celebration in 1963. It is undocumented and cannot be verified, but there is strong evidence to suggest that Jim was the First Groundhog “King” at UD.
Jim was a great storyteller and was a wealth of information on Canada, European history, family stories, events past and present, often adding extra comical and unknown information. Jim was the kind of guy that you can sit and talk with for an hour and walk away with dozens of new tidbits of information. We will miss you terribly, Jim.
How fortunate that Jim has had so many good years with family, friends, and colleagues that lasted his lifetime.
In February of 2019, Jim was unanimously elected to the National Alumni Board of UD (University of Dallas). Jim was the only Board Member that had met every University of Dallas President except the first President of UD, F. Kenneth Brasted. Jim also was a participant in UD’s first ever Groundhog celebration in 1963. It is undocumented and cannot be verified, but there is strong evidence to suggest that Jim was the First Groundhog “King” at UD.
A wake will be held on Wednesday April 26, 2023, at Oblate School of Theology at 9:00 AM,
followed by a Mass at 10:00 AM, with a reception to follow.
Services will be live streamed at
https://youtube.com/live/WqvDwEpEaOs?feature=share