James Francis Hollingsworth was born on 24 March 1918 at Woodland Farm in Denton County near Sanger, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Newton Hollingsworth. He graduated from Texas A&M College of Texas with a B.S. in agriculture in 1940 and entered the United States Army the same year, serving from 1940 to 1976 and rising from second lieutenant to lieutenant general. His education and professional development included the Command and General Staff College in 1952, the Army War College in 1957, a Master of Arts in foreign affairs from George Washington University in 1963, and an honorary Ph.D. from Chung-Ang University in South Korea in 1974. He served heroically under General George Patton in World War Two and was a soldier, leader, and commander who was highly decorated while fighting for his country in World War Two and Vietnam. During the Vietnam era, he was known as the only officer who never changed his radio call sign, “Danger 79er,” and was revered by his troops and feared by the enemy as a warrior who was always on scene in times of need or immense peril. After retirement, he established his personal consulting company and worked as a consultant in national security from 1976 to 1997. His ties to Texas A&M University included recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1980 and induction into the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor in 1994.