Passing of Management Professor Jim Fredrickson

Dear McCombs Community,

It is with great sadness that I share with you that our dear friend and respected colleague, Jim Fredrickson, passed away Monday, July 23 following a brief illness. I understand the shock and sense of loss this news will bring to everyone within the McCombs community and beyond. Jim represents the best of who we are as educators, mentors, and contributors to society and will be sorely missed.

It is difficult to encapsulate the contributions Jim made to the work of this university as a world-renowned researcher and teacher who profoundly impacted the lives of his students for generations. Students and faculty members recognized his excellence with over 20 teaching awards to his credit. There is clear evidence that Jim was the model for enthusiastic and rigorous academic pursuit.

He also served selflessly in positions of support to his colleagues, including six years as chair of the Department of Management, serving on the department’s executive committee, and holding numerous other professional appointments in his field. Time and again, Jim stepped forward when duty called in service of the school, and the university and McCombs will be forever grateful for it.

For a full description of Jim’s incredible life, please visit the memorial website set up by Beck Funeral Homes.

Jim’s celebration of life ceremony has been planned for Saturday, August 18 at 2pm at the University Catholic Center with a reception to follow in the McCombs CBA Events Room at 3pm. This event is open to the public. A slideshow of memories will be accompanied by time for friends and family to share joyful stories of Jim’s life with the group. A Facebook event has been created for the service and will be updated with any new information as necessary.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the McCombs School of Business in support of the James W. Fredrickson Endowed Fellowship for Graduate Students. Contributions can be made online or mailed to McCombs Development Office, 1 University Station, B6500, Austin, Texas, 78712.

Knowing how much Jim means to everyone in our school community, I encourage you to take the time to personally process this news in whatever way is most helpful to you. Reach out to your colleagues for support and to share your thoughts and feelings during this difficult time.

Sincerely yours,

Jay

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Jay C. Hartzell, Dean

Lois and Richard Folger Dean’s Leadership Chair

Centennial Chair in Business Education Leadership

Trammell Crow Regents Professor

Shortly before his passing, Fredrickson looked back at his decades-long career to share some thoughts and insights.