James F. Nields II ’25

BORN IN WILMINGTON, Del. June 2, 1902, our well loved and respected classmate, Jim Nields, died in his home in Ware, Mass., Oct. 7, 1991. Coming to us from St. Paul's School, he was on our freshman football and hockey teams and a member of Ivy. Leaving us in June 1923, he entered the textile business. Moving to Ware, Mass., in 1929, he served as General Manager of Otis Co. When that company moved south, he founded Ware Knitting Co. in one of their mills, serving as president until selling the business in 1988. He served on a number of textile industry associations and on the Textile Advisory Board of the Department of Commerce, being especially involved in tariff negotiations.

His avocation was flying, and he logged more than 12,000 miles. He was a founder of Red Wing Flying Service, a barnstorming group. He established several records for flying small aircraft across the Atlantic and the U.S. In 1989 he received the Lindbergh Diploma from the Federation Aeronotique Internationale. In WWII he served as director of the Red Cross in the Mediterranean Theater, and was a member of the War Production Board.

He was a director of the Ware Trust Co. and Mary Lane Hospital. He is survived by his widow, the former Martha Berry, a son, James 111, and two grandchildren, to whom the Class extends sympathy,

The Class of 1925