James White is a native Texan. After graduating from Houston public schools in 1982, he attended Prairie View A & M University to study political science and military science. Upon graduation at Prairie View, with honors, in 1986, the United States Congress awarded James White a commission as an officer of Infantry in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he served in a variety of assignments throughout the world, most notably the Berlin Brigade during the demise of the Soviet Union, from 1987-90. He successfully graduated from the United States Army Infantry Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and Airborne School and prepared future combat leaders as an instructor at the U.S. Infantry School.
After separating from the Army with an Honorable Discharge in 1992, James White began a career as a public school educator in the Houston area. He has taught the social sciences on the middle school, high school, and undergraduate collegiate level. James White has been a Republican since 1986. Beginning in 1993, he was a guest columnist for Headway Magazine, a conservative monthly publication. From 1994-2005, he served as a precinct chair and was a member of various conservative and Republican organizations. In 2002 and 2004, his fellow precinct chairs elected him as chairman of the Senate District 13 caucus and the senatorial district convention in Harris County. Additionally, the state party chair appointed him to chair the Congressional District 9 caucus and the state convention nominating committee. He is presently serving on the governing board for the Texas Federation of Republican Outreach (formerly the Texas Black Republican Council).
Currently, James White resides in Tyler County, where he maintains a small cattle ranch and has completed doctoral studies in Political Science at the University of Houston. Before becoming state representative, he taught American Government, Free Enterprise Economics and coaches middle and high school football and high school basketball at Woodville High School in Woodville, Texas. Each year, he sponsors a scholarship to a deserving high school graduate that aspires to attend college to pursue a degree in Political Science. Additionally, he was a professor of government at Angelina College located in Lufkin, Texas.
In his spare time, he is involved in youth sports as a football, basketball, and baseball official. James White worships at Hillister Baptist Church and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Texas Farm Bureau.
