Alexander "A. J." James Triggs Jr.

Alexander James Triggs, Jr., was born in Cameron, Texas on June 27, 1929 to loving and devoted parents Alex and I. G. Triggs, both of whom preceded him in death. “A. J.” was also preceded in death by his brother, Rev. William A. Triggs and his wife Claire. Services will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler with Rev. Gerry Giles officiating. Visitation will be Monday, May 11, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. A private burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery prior to the service. His early years in Cameron, Calvert and Bryan were highlighted by calf roping exhibitions in rodeos with his best friend “Nubbin”. He also lettered in football in Calvert during his Freshman year. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, where he was a high jumper on the track team. He later received his degree (B.A.) from North Texas State University where he was a team member on the 1949 and 1950 NCAA National Championship golf team. A. J. served in the U. S. Coast Guard from December, 1950, to December, 1953. During this time he married Lessley Ann Ryall on September 1, 1951. He spent a couple of years in the Municipal Bond business upon moving to Tyler in 1955. In 1958, he joined the New York Life Insurance Company, retiring after 38 years as a life member of “The Million Dollar Round Table.” On April 7th of this year, he was inducted into the New York Life Hall of Fame. He was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church where he served on the Board of Stewards, sang in the choir for 38 years and was song leader for the Friendly Bible Class for over 25 years. His golf career included 49 tournament wins and he was a 7 time club champion at Willow Brook Country Club. He had four holes-in-one and held three course records. His great love of the game was reflected in his many years of service in the Texas Golf Association; two terms as President and thirty years on the Board of Directors. He served eleven years on the Sectional Affairs Committee of the USGA and was an advisory board member of the North Texas PGA. He received the “Byron Nelson Award” in 1988 from the PGA for contributions to Amateur Golf. An annual Tyler tournament is named “The A. J. Triggs, Jr. Cup” and “Triggs Trace” is a street within Cascades Golf Club due to his two tournament wins of the Briarwood Invitational. His passion, love and respect for the honor and integrity of the game of golf culminated with his induction into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2013. A.J. is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lessley Ann Ryall Triggs; daughter Lisa Anne Rudolph; sons James Byron Triggs and Mark Stephen Triggs; grandchildren Stefan Gillespie Jones, Ryan Gillespie, Collin Gillespie, Graham Gillespie and Zachary Triggs; son-in-law Clint Rudolph; daughter-in-law Freda Triggs; three great-grandchildren, Halle and Addelyn Jones and Bear Gillespie; nieces Adele Dillon, Rebecca Maggi, Tanya Atwood, Kim Hitt, Debbie DeCell, and Adrienne Smith; nephews Alex Triggs, Bill Zeiss and John Scott DeCell; and his in-laws, May Ellen DeCell, Patsy Sue Zeiss and Will A. Ryall. Pallbearers will be the above named grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are Chad Hanna, Bruce Fox, Bill Turner, Don January, Mike Reeves, Jack Reese, Andy Wall, Terry Brown, Don Robert Johnson, Jimmy Wheeler, Reggie Howell, Herd Snider and the Directors of the Texas Golf Association. Memorials may be made in honor of A. J. Triggs, Jr., to a charity of your choice.

Alexander "A. J." James Triggs Jr.

June 27, 1929 - May 7, 2015