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Jim Nichols built lakes, and so much more

THE EDITORIAL BOARD
"Being able to give back to the community was a big deal for my father, " John Nichols said of his father, Jim Nichols.
"Being able to give back to the community was a big deal for my father, " John Nichols said of his father, Jim Nichols. Family Photo (2014)

Texas was mostly dusty and dry until Jim Nichols’ family got here.

For 66 years as one of Texas’ most prominent civil engineers, Nichols led Freese and Nichols as the company built lakes, dams, pipelines and pump stations across Texas, particularly Richland-Chambers Reservoir near Corsicana to provide water for Fort Worth.

When he died Thursday at 92, Nichols had led the firm for 21 years as partner, 11 as president and 14 as board chairman.

Along the way, he followed his father, Marvin Nichols, in leading the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in a time of downtown development and advised both Texas A&M University, his alma mater, and UT Arlington’s engineering school.

One of his most remarkable engineering efforts might have come in 2002, when Nichols, a lifelong United Methodist and the grandson of a circuit-riding pastor, brought faith leaders together to support a four-night Billy Graham revival.

Nichols quenched Texans’ thirst, and not only for water.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Jim Nichols built lakes, and so much more."

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