Jim Perkins and his wife Margaret have been recognized multiple times for their dedication to local education. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Jim and Margaret Perkins, longtime friends of Tyler Junior College, were honored during Thursday’s TJC Board of Trustees meeting for their recent gift of property in their hometown of Rusk.

“The Perkins name is associated with paying it forward, and we truly appreciate and celebrate all that they do on behalf of others,” said Dr. Juan E. Mejia, President and CEO of TJC. “The college’s master plan encompasses our entire service area, and very important to our work is how we better serve the southernmost part of our region, specifically Rusk and Jacksonville, and their surrounding areas. Communities need champions, and the Perkins family came forward and gifted the property to the TJC Foundation, and today that is being transferred to the Tyler Junior College District.”

Located on the downtown square in Rusk, the 6,700-square-foot building on S. Henderson Street is known by many as “the train building,” as it features a mural of the historic Texas State Railroad, a 25-mile heritage railroad that runs between Rusk and Palestine.

Mejia also highlighted the Perkins’ many contributions to TJC, including their statewide recognition in 2023 through the Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award, when leaders from public and private institutions of higher learning recognized their positive impact to the entire state. Presidents, chancellors and leaders of more than 100 Texas higher education institutions honored the Perkins, co-nominating the couple for the award by Tyler Junior College and Stephen F. Austin State University. The nomination referred to their establishment in 2006 of the James I. Perkins Family Foundation, which was created to support students, institutions of higher education, and the communities in East Texas.

Also present at the TJC board meeting was Tom Seale, TJC Foundation board chair, who provided leadership through the acceptance of the gift and who, along with the foundation board officers, identified the perfect alignment to the institution’s master plan.

Mejia added that this very generous gift will accelerate efforts toward a comprehensive community/learning center that will be focused on making available workforce and academic programs, in addition to key learning opportunities for members of the surrounding communities.

“Jim and Margaret Perkins have a legacy of partnering with TJC,” said Mitch Andrews, TJC vice president for institutional advancement. “We share in their vision of reaching more students in the region with educational opportunities. Their donation of a building and land in the community of Rusk will help TJC impact more East Texas students. We applaud them for their leadership and generosity.”

The Perkins are well-known figures who are often recognized for their significant contributions to the community and business sector. They have built a successful career in various business ventures and are active supporters of local initiatives, focusing on education, economic development, and philanthropy. Their dedication to community service and leadership has made them respected members of the East Texas community.

“When you receive an honor like this, the best thing about it is to be around people who work hard and embrace our efforts to make our communities stronger and stronger,” said Jim Perkins. “I’ve said before that, to me, Tyler Junior College is the best junior college in the United States.

“I thank the TJC Board, the TJC Foundation, and the College community for their steadfast commitment to Rusk. We’re going to stay fully behind it and ensure that TJC continues to be a leader in meeting the needs of our communities.”

Over the years, the Perkins family has generously supported the Tyler Junior College Foundation, SFA’s College of Education, The University of Texas at Tyler, UT Austin’s Law School, and East Texas Baptist University.

In 2014, the Perkins collaborated with TJC and created a scholarship program for local high school graduates that has grown into the “TJC Promise” now serving six communities in the East Texas region.

Mrs. Perkins is a former junior high and high school English and history teacher. She also served as a librarian, substitute teacher, and member of the Rusk ISD board and is a bank director. Mr. Perkins, a former SFA Regent Chairman, is president and chairman of the board of Citizens 1st Bank-Tyler, and a practicing attorney. They both have received the T.B. Butler Award as Outstanding Citizens, Tyler Junior College’s Black and Gold Award, and the UT Tyler Galaxy Award. The couple serve on and are supporters of various boards and nonprofits in East Texas.