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a Tribute to Mr. James "Jim" Magnuson: University of Texas Michener Center Director for Creative Writing has died at age 84. (And a caring attentive Dad)

 --GVM speaking here.

This one hit me hard today, January 20th, 2026. I knew Jim Magnuson and his son Billy Magnuson from growing up in West Austin, Tarrytown, Old Enfield WAYA in the 1990's. Jim Magunson, Billy's Dad, co-coached our youth basketballs games at the local ATX WAYA Rec Center. The Magnuson family was extremely kind, including Billy's mom and sister. Jim Magnuson was approachable, intelligent, conversational and wittingly funny. Simply put, he was just a swell man to be around. Rest in Peace Jim. You were one of the best examples of a human, I've ever known.


Article #1 Click here for the article: November 23, 2020,
JAMES MAGNUSON: A literary Life & Legacy


Article #2. Penguin Random House Article on James "Jim" Magnuson. 






This below photo collage is when I attended a BOOK RELEASE event for Jim's Son and my contemporary (smarter than me) Billy Magnuson @ BookPeople ATX



James Magnuson is survived by his beloved wife Hester, daughter Martha, son William and his wife Jane, four grandchildren, sister Mary, brother Mark, and numerous nieces and nephews. A service will be held at 11am, Monday, Feb. 2, at the Texas State Cemetery. The Michener Center plans a memorial program later in the spring. An obituary for Magnuson suggests that “in lieu of memorials, buy a good book for someone you love.” Amen.







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