The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
In Memoriam: Jim Shamblin
05.13.2019 | Baseball
A member of 1949 Baseball National Championship team, Shamblin passed away May 8 in Houston.
(1925-2019)
A World War II Veteran and member of the 1949 College World Series Championship team, James Madison Shamblin passed away in Houston on May 8, 2019, at the age of 93. A lifelong Houstonian, he was born in Huntsville on July 8, 1925, the son of J.M. Shamblin and Margaret Bryan Shamblin. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, and was honorably discharged in 1946.
Shamblin attended The University of Texas where he played baseball from 1947-49, receiving first-team All-Southwest Conference honors in 1949. The 1949 Longhorns won the College World Series and Shamblin set a then-CWS record with five hits in a game.
Shamblin left the university to continue playing baseball with Texas semi-pro teams, the Weimar Herder Truckers and the Alpine Cowboys.
Following his baseball career, Shamblin would go on to become a successful entrepreneur, founding Mr. Fireplace, Inc., a business he had for more than 20 years with his wife and family.
He married Audrey Nelson in 1966 and the couple would go on to raise three children, Ralph, Royce and Pamela. Jim and Audrey, who were married for 41 years, were known for their devotion to each other and fun-loving companionship.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Audrey; his parents; and his sister, Margaret Jean. He is survived by his daughter, Pamela; son, Ralph; son, Royce and his daughter-in-law, Georgia; as well as his grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home at 11 a.m. located at 6900 Lawndale St. Houston, Texas 77023.
