James Lucian Batson Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, teacher, mentor and friend, passed away peacefully after a brief illness at the age of 90. Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Jim was the son of James L. Batson Sr. and Bertha Mae (Cummings) Batson.
He grew up in the Piney Woods area of Alabama on the family’s Concord Farm alongside his younger brothers, Dorman and Ted. His remarkable life-story began at eighteen months old, crawling on the tracks behind his house, he was hit by a train and pulled out by his mother. There are not enough words to describe his lifelong determination, persistence, and unyielding pursuit of any goal he set his mind to. Early on he faced what would seem to most significant obstacles and lack with a creative and positive response always finding a way. Although he lived in the country and being the oldest had many chores and responsibilities, he found a way to do more. His mother wanted him to put that energy into music and art, but he had other ideas. In addition to being driven, he had an innate, natural ability to use his hands and was good at figuring out how to do something with his mind.
Jim came of age with a deep curiosity and a strong work ethic forged early in life. As a young man, he delivered newspapers by bicycle, helped farm ten acres with his family, and taught himself skills that would define a lifetime of craftsmanship and achievement. He loved to read (Jack London being his favorite) and entered the Boy Scouts as soon as he was old enough. At Hueytown High School he lettered in baseball, basketball and football and he excelled in math, chemistry, physics, and botany. He bought his first car and taught himself how to rebuild the engine, earning him a job as a part-time mechanic. He epitomized working smarter than harder and learned that lesson early on when digging septic tank lines and deciding after two weeks there “was a better way so I looked in a book and found that Aeronautical Engineers got paid the most.”
It would be a mistake not to add that his first chore began with a knife, or more precisely an axe, chopping firewood for the family wood stove. In December of 1952 he was inspired by a Popular Mechanics article about Bo Randall and how he made knives. He fashioned his first knife in his uncle’s workshop and his mother’s kitchen. About this time the Iron Mistress came out and that is when he said “I became a lover of Bowie Knives.”
In the fall of 1954, he enrolled at Alabama Polytech Institute, now Auburn University and was accepted to the co-op program at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama living at the boarding house of “Ma Miller’s”. As a co-op, he worked on the Honest John and Little John Rockets as a Test Engineer and fired rockets in White Sands, New Mexico. While in New Mexico, he fought in the 1957 Golden Gloves learning a lesson that fighting was not for him.
Jim, or Batson as he was known, devoted 33 years of service to Redstone Arsenal; he managed and conducted original research on free flight rockets; worked on the Shillelagh anti-tank weapon and the Law Rocket development; worked in the MLRS’s Project Office from its inception, a weapon system that would later earn the nickname “Steel Rain” during Operation Desert Storm; was test manager for the Pershing Rocket Program; and finished his career in the ”Skunk Works” or fondly called Prototype Engineering. Many of the rockets he saw go from “cradle to the grave.” He took quite pride in work that served his country and made a lasting impact.
He received his master’s degree from Auburn in 1967 in Aerospace Engineering. During his master’s program, he sailed the Olympic class sailboat called the Flying Dutchman and competed in the pre-Olympic trials. In 1972, he received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas and then skippered a cruise sailing across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas 5 times.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jim’s greatest passion was the forge. In 1978, he became the hardware supplier to build the wrought ironwork for what is called Constitution Village in Huntsville, Alabama. A blacksmith and knife maker, he studied under legendary craftsmen including Frances Whitaker and Bill Moran. He earned the prestigious Master Bladesmith designation from the American Bladesmith Society and co-founded the Alabama Forge Council. Jim served as President of the Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America and taught for 30 years at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina among others. He also founded the Batson Bladesmith Symposium now held at Tannehill Ironworks in its 38th year bringing together knifemakers new and old.
Learning to research from his days at the University of Texas and the art of scientific discovery from his tenure at Redstone Arsenal, Jim authored numerous magazine articles and books ranging from the material science of bladesmithing, to how to build your own hydraulic forge press, to the history of the early American Knives he loved and made. In 1990, he began to pursue his lifelong quest to document the history of the Bowie knife. His first book published in 1992, James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight, was the first of many bodies of research this man of science, logic and skill would produce. He continued writing and researching until the end with his last book published recently at the age of 90.
Jim forged Damascus steel, restored an 1814 historic home in Twickenham, hiked part of the Appalachian trail with the Boy Scout Troup 400 he led, served as Deacon at Monte Sano Methodist Church, and was loved by all he touched. He was a man of remarkable talent and range, approaching every endeavor with humility, discipline, and an unwavering desire to learn. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, who shared many of his most prolific years of craftsmanship and adventure; his daughter, Sara Fair, and her husband, Steve; his son, Jim Batson, and his wife, Bonnie, of Huntsville; Barbara’s sons, Jim and John, and their families; 14 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Sara Batson, his first wife and the mother of his children; his brother, Dorman Batson, and family; his sister-in-law, Ann Batson, wife of his late brother Ted Batson, and her family; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James L. Batson Sr. and Bertha Mae Batson, and his brother, Ted Batson.
James Batson was led by a brilliant and curious mind. He continually sought out new skills and challenges to master with undaunting courage that no task was too difficult. His hunger for learning was rivaled only by what will be his greatest legacy: teaching, bringing people together of like minds to share and inspiring others for generations. His life truly did “take a Rocket Scientist.”
“And last but not least, I wish to thank the good Lord above, who has endowed me with whatever basic skills I have.” — James Lucian Batson Jr.
A private graveside burial service for immediate family will be held in Bessemer, Alabama. A Memorial Celebration honoring Jim’s life will be held this fall at Burritt on the Mountain in Huntsville. Details will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of James Lucian Batson Jr., will help support future generations of blacksmiths and bladesmiths who share his passion for craftsmanship, learning, and preserving the traditions of the forge.
Checks may be made payable to:
Alabama Forge Council in care of Judd Clemm
Re: James Batson Memorial
Mailing address: Judd Clemm, 111 Yorkshire Dr., Athens, Alabama 35613
