James “Jim” Horace Geer, 84 years old, passed away peacefully, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at home, in Parkland, Florida, a home which he lived with the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Kathleen “Kathy” Huffman Geer.
Jim was born in Sparta, Tennessee, on Aug. 20, 1939, and was raised there in a loving home with his parents and beloved dog Buddy. He graduated from White County High School, on April 26, 1957.
Jim was always very proud of an early job he had in Sparta running a Tastee-Freeze together with a close friend.
He attended Tennessee Technological University (formerly Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, in Cookeville, Tennessee, graduating in June 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with a major in Finance. Jim was very involved in class government and was student body president at the time of his graduation. It was during that time that he met Kathy, who he late married, on May 26, 1962.
Jim received his commission in November 1961 in the U.S. Army through Tennessee Tech’s ROTC program and, following graduation, served as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He worked for a short time at Commerce Union Bank, in Nashville, Tennessee, until the Army assigned him to Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During his time at Fort Bragg, he met several FBI agents who suggested he consider a career with the FBI, which he ultimately did, and it was there he found his passion.
Jim joined the FBI, in May 1964, and attended several months of training, in Quantico, Virginia, after which he was given his first assignment as a Special Agent, in Springfield, Illinois. He was transferred to the San Francisco division, in 1965, to attend the Defense Language Institute, in Monterey, California, where he learned Serbo-Croation, which he continued to be able to speak all his life. Upon completion of his language training, he was transferred to the Washington, D.C., Field Office, in July 1966. In Washington, he held various roles, including in 1972 when he was placed on “loan” to the House Appropriations Committee and spent approximately two years reviewing various military appropriations. In February 1978, he was transferred to the Dallas, Texas, office as Assistant Agent in Charge until September 1979 when he was transferred back to Washington as a Section Chief in the Intelligence Division.
In 1982, Jim was appointed Assistant Director of the FBI’s Laboratory Division and served in that role until August 1985 when he took the position of Assistant Director of Foreign Counterintelligence. In this role, Jim was responsible for the executive management of all FBI counterintelligence programs and operations and in charge of the FBI’s efforts to “identify and neutralize the threat posed by foreign intelligence services and their agents in the United States and by nations, groups, and individuals which constitute the sources of international terrorism.” He served in this position until his retirement from the FBI, on Nov. 30, 1989.
Jim joined the DuPont Company, in December 1989, as Director of Corporate Security for the company’s worldwide operations and held that position until his retirement, on Dec. 31, 2000. He was responsible for the security of DuPont’s physical locations around the world and for security issues relating to the nearly 100,000 DuPont employees around the world at that time.
On May 5, 1986, the mayor of his hometown of Sparta, Tennessee, proclaimed Jim “A Most Illustrious Citizen of Sparta, Tennessee,” and “Jimmy Geer Day” was celebrated at his alma mater, White County High School, during which time Jim spoke and answered questions from the students.
Also in 1986, he received the Louis Johnson Outstanding Alumnus Award from the College of Business Administration Foundation at Tennessee Tech, which honors special achievements an alumnus has accomplished in his/her profession or for participation in civic, cultural, education, political, or other activities worthwhile to society.
For his service in the FBI, Jim received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, on Dec. 4, 1990, and the Distinguished Service Award of the FBI Executive Service. The CIA director noted as part of the award presentation that Jim’s career with the FBI would have “overreaching importance to U.S. national security for years to come.”
Jim was a loving husband, devoted father, proud grandfather, and great-grandfather and was known by all for his Southern charm, sense of humor, and kindness. He was a highly respected leader in the international intelligence community and a mentor to many.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace Greeley Geer and Velma Clyde Bain Geer, and his grandson-in-law, Alexander Daiber.
Jim is survived by his wife, Kathleen Geer; three children, James H. Geer Jr., Kelly M. Geer, Jeffrey Geer; three children-in-law, Sheri Geer, Michael Horton, Renee Maurer; six grandchildren, Matthew Geer, Kelsey Daiber, Joshua Geer, Danielle California, Alex Horton-Geer, Samuel Geer; one granddaughter-in-law, Fabiola Geer; and two great-grandchildren, Ezra Daiber and Grace Geer.
Jim will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
