Spur’s Jim Whitefield, longtime GM of Cap Rock Telephone, passes away Feb. 18
Six-decade career, family values remembered in Feb. 23 memorial
JIM“JIMMY”WHITEFIELD was employed by Cap Rock Telephone from Oct. 17, 1966 to his death Feb. 18, 2026—a span of 59-1/2 years, the most recent of those as executive vice president and general manager. | CAP ROCK TELEPHONE
HONORED FOR SERVICE Though Whitefield was never one to pursue publicity, colleagues and the coop surprised him with a 25-year tribute at the annual meeting March 1, 1991—one of the only records of his achievements to surface in the files of The Texas Spur—and then, by the telecommunications industry in 2014, with the first-ever Legend Award from the Texas Statewide Telecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI). | COURTESY PHOTO
EXPANDINGENTERPRISE Whitefieldoversawconstructionofexpandedfacilities for the coop over the years, including new signage added to the Third Street headquarters in 1997 and addition of a warehouse across the street in 2001. | CAP ROCK TELEPHONE
Spur’s Jim Whitefield, longtime GM of Cap Rock Telephone, passes away Feb. 18
LEGENDAWARD In 2014 theTexas StatewideTelecommunications Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI) presented Whitefield with its first-ever Legend Award. | CAPROCK TELEPHONE
SPURCLASSOF1961 Whitefieldcame to spur with his family in 1959 and graduated as a member of the Class of 1961. His senior yearbook notes that he played basketball during his junior and senior years and was a member of the FFA. | LA ESPUELA YEARBOOK
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY Whitefield married Shirley Long June 20, 1964. They were blessed with two children, Paula and Jay. Shirley preceded her husband in death Dec. 15, 2020. | COURTESY PHOTO
INDUSTRY LEADER Whitefield rose through the ranks at the Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative, from outside technician to employment within the company, to increasing levels of responsibility within the coop and the telecommunications industry. | CAP ROCK TELEPHONE
FIFTY-FIVE YEARS Whitefield was recognized on the occasion of his 55th anniversary with the coop, in October 2021. | COURTESY PHOTO
“Someone who found a job, and a job he could do well” was one way that associates of Spur resident Jim—Jimmy to his friends—Whitefield remembered him following his death Feb. 18, 2026, at age 82.
