James Lewis Rowland, Jr., passed away peacefully surrounded by his family June 17th at the young age of 77. He was born October 15, 1942 in Jasper, Alabama and remained a lifelong resident of Walker County.
Jim graduated from Carbon Hill High School where he played on the state finals championship basketball team coached by Wimp Sanderson(Coach Sanderson‘s only year to coach at the high school level). Jim attended the University of Alabama and later received his teaching certificate from Shelton State. He taught auto body repair at Walker County Center of Technology and where he retired.
If anyone was born to teach, it was Mr. Rowland. His patiences were unmatched. He was a father figure to his students as well as those in need of a strong positive mentor. He had an ability to teach someone and empower them to then accomplish anything. He could teach you even if you weren’t aware you were being taught, a true gift.
Jim’s love of cars and racing earned him a legendary reputation as an innovative engineer, modifier and restorer of all types of hot rods and classic cars. He started his racing career while in the Navy at Cajon Speedway in the early to mid-1960s. In between tours to Vietnam he raced his 1932 Ford flathead V-8. Later bring the car across country back to his beloved Walker County. Once returning to Alabama, Jim raced for many years at nearly every race track in northern and central Alabama, along side his brother and later his son, nephew and grandson. Although he drove many different cars over the years, his true passion was as the Rowland Racing crew chief. There was nothing he could not repair at the track in the heat of the battle. He had a brilliant mechanical mind and creative talent for fixing anything and anyone.
His life ended in poetic fashion at the I-22 dragstrip. After cutting an almost perfect light to start the race and barreling down the track at 135 miles an hour, he edged his competitor by less than .009 seconds for his final win. Seconds later he pulled his dragster into the grass and never regained consciousness. He literally died while enjoying his lifelong love of racing.
Survived by: his wife of 40 years Edwina Ingle Rowland, his children Lori Rowland, Kelley Rowland, and Jim and Emily Rowland and their mother Diane Fiore. He was a grandfather to three grandchildren Hannah, Ethan and William. His brothers Randy and Terry. He was an uncle to Scot Rowland.
Preceded in death by: his father James Lewis Rowland, A.k.a. Shine and his mother Marguaret Rowland A.k.a. Bunny
The family has planned his service at Collins Burke funeral home located at 303 Oakhill Rd., Jasper Alabama on Thursday, June 25 from 5 PM to 7 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Walker County Center of Technology located at 100 Viking Dr., Jasper, AL 35501
