1921 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL, was his address when he attended theP owell family reunion with Wayne Purvis.
1924-1925 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. He was a football star from thel ocal arena before going on to bigger and better things, sharing thelim elight with team captain, brother, Tom. On that same team wasHarry H ill, later known nationally as "Tiny" Hill, dance band leader.
1925-1927 Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, where he continued playing footballo n the high school team.
1928-31 Indiana. Jim attended Purdue Univ where his many awardsinclu ded All-America halfback. As part of a group of All-Americanshe was c hosen to make a football movie in Hollywood starring RichardArlen, Jim my Gleason, Andy Devine, Gloria Stuart, and others.
Following graduation from college, he coached football for 4 years atP urdue, with brother, Duane, also an All-American, among hisstudents. I n the summer months, he returned to Hollywood to makeseveral westerns a nd football movies. It was there he became, andremained, friends with s uch names as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, HootGibson, Irene Dunn, John Boles, R obert Taylor, Gene Autry, RoyRogers, and Dale Evans. He boasted of th eir various visits to hishome throughout the years. See 1947 entry un der brother, Tom, reRobert Taylor.
1939 AZ, near Prescott, where he assumed management of hisfather-in-l aw's ranch. His brand, the flying JP, was used for theNew Mexico regi stered cattle and horses raised there.
Albuquerque, New Mexico He had a western kid show on TV for yearswith h is horse and dog with guest appearances by such stars as GeneAutry, Ro y Rogers, and Rin-Tin-Tin.
2/21/48 Mattoon, IL. As reported in the newspaper: "Jim Purvis atlo ng last has come home to his native Mattoon to go into businesswith hi s brother, L.K. "Tom" Purvis after several years in the sportsand mili tary world. Jim has bought a half interest in Tom's tractorand implem ent business leaving the automobile business entirely toTom."
