James Poole

James R. Poole, 86, of Taos, NM, passed away on January 27, 2006. He was a native of the State of Virginia, born in Lawrenceville, VA, in 1919, and a descendent of the founder of the town of Poolesville, VA. After graduating from Virginia State College in 1942, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force, as one of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen. In December of 1946, he entered civilian duty as Director of Personnel for the Veterans Hospital, in Tuskegee, Alabama. From July 1952 through March 1961, he served in the positions of Director of Personnel and Assistant Administrator of Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, DC. In 1961, he joined the U.S. Civil Service Commission (Office of Personnel Management, OPM) as Assistant Director, Office of College Relations and Recruitment, and later served as Director of the Office of Student Employment Programs. Included in his responsibilities was the development and implementation of policies and Presidential executive orders for the recruitment and staffing of Federal positions within the Executive Branch of Government. He assisted several U.S. Presidents in choosing staff. He held memberships in many professional organizations: Board of Directors, National Cooperative Education Association; Editorial Board, Cooperative Education Journal; National Panel, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation; World Council, International Cooperative Education Association; Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Sigma Pi Phi (professional fraternity); and throughout his life maintained his membership in Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. At the time of his death, he was residing in Taos, NM. He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter Frances Poole Lee, 1999. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Pinder, daughter JoAnn Poole Mills and grandson Seamus Mills of Taos, NM; sister Daisy McFadden of NY; and nephew Dr. Samuel McFadden of Mass., and numerous relatives and friends. He was generous with his time and love. Private services were held at Taos, NM.