James J. Gonzales

James J. Gonzales, Colonel USAF (Retired), passed into the next life at age 65 in Centennial, Colorado on September 9, 2012. He is preceded by his parents E. J. Gunny Gonzales and Anne B. Gonzales of Mobile, Alabama. He is survived by his devoted wife Julia Chase Gonzales, daughters Kimberly Julienne Gonzales and Katherine Gonzales Kristoffersen, sons Brian James Gonzales and Michael Joseph Gonzales, brother Joseph A. Gonzales, Colonel USA (Retired), sister Kathleen Gonzales Collins, and four grandchildren. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Colonel Gonzales attended McGill High School and accepted a Congressional appointment to the USAF Academy in 1965, earning his commission and B.S. degree in 1969. He met Julia Chase in Colorado in 1968 where she attended Loretto Heights College. The Academy selected him to attend law school at Vanderbilt University instead of pilot training. He earned the Master of Laws degree from George Washington University Law School in 1977. Mr. Gonzales also earned a Master's degree in Theology from Denver's St. Thomas Theological Seminary. Colonel Gonzales continued JAG service in the Air Force Reserves after settling in Colorado in 1980 as supervisory attorney with the Federal Labor Relation Authority. He joined the law firm of Holland & Hart in 1985 where for the rest of his professional career he served clients throughout the Rocky Mountain region before Federal and State courts. Mr. Gonzales also appeared on behalf of Colorado's business community before the U.S. House of Representatives labor committee concerning OSHA regulatory reform. He was admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, US Courts of Appeals and US District Courts, US Court of Military Appeals, and the Supreme Courts of Colorado and Tennessee. He retired from the USAF in 1999 with decorations including the Presidential Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, USAF Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, and Army Airborne Badge. A teacher at heart, Colonel Gonzales instructed graduate courses for Central Michigan University and periodically lectured at the USAF Academy. A prolific writer, he published scholarly articles in the Colorado Lawyer and Corporate Legal Times. He also was an award-winning author of biographical and historical books, including GUNNY: Memoirs of Mobile's South Side (2007) and USAFA'S Cadet Zoo (2009). Mr. Gonzales actively participated in Catholic Church ministries, including Marriage Encounter, Godparents, and Canonical marriage annulments. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for him on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Denver, Colorado. Rosary Service will be held Tuesday, September 11 from 5 to 7 pm at Horan and McConaty at 1091 S. Colorado Boulevard in Denver. Military burial honors will be observed at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Porter Hospice Foundation.