Good judgment and a strong work ethic took the late James S. “Jim” Locker far in life, and he wished to help others who had the same type of drive to reach their goals. A proud TU alumnus, Locker earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics with minors in chemistry and physics in 1964, and he pursued this degree while working full time for Pan American Petroleum Corporation in Tulsa. He understood that higher education would be vital to his career growth, and he was right. Locker went on to enjoy much success, working mainly in the energy industry as a computer programmer and analyst with jobs at Pan American, Texas Instruments, SCI Electronics, and Amoco Production. He traveled extensively for his career, both in the U.S. and abroad.
His early years hinted at his ability to work hard and achieve goals. Jim was the eldest of four children of Harold and Edith Locker, who were business owners in their community of Okmulgee. Jim developed his work ethic and sense of responsibility by helping in his parents’ business. He enjoyed camping during his youth and built a cottage by a lake with his friends at a young age, showing his propensity to make plans and see them through to fruition.
Locker served in the Korean War from 1953-1955 in the U.S. Army, and he remained proud of his service to his country throughout his life.
Locker also was a devoted family man who was married to his beloved wife for more than 50 years. Jim and Ramona Locker had two children, James and Cheri. Locker passed away in 2016 at the age of 83, and his family continues to cherish their memories of him as a friendly and gregarious person who never met a stranger.
Before he passed away, Locker made arrangements to leave an estate gift to The University of Tulsa to help students who need financial assistance to reach their goals. The James S. Locker Scholarship may be awarded to students in any major, but recipients must show that they’ve been working part-time while pursuing an education to qualify for the award.
The University of Tulsa is grateful to this successful TU alumnus, who has left a legacy for those who are willing to work hard to achieve their goals.
