James William “Tiny” Standifer (1913-1986) was born in Beaumont, Texas to Samuel Francis Standifer (1879-1957) and Zena Zora Owens Standifer (1883-1967). After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1932, he played football at Louisiana State University and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. From 1940 to 1942, Standifer served as an assistant coach and director of the intramural sports program at Lamar Junior College (now Lamar University) in Beaumont, where he also earned an associate degree. Standifer went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the Texas A&M University in 1944 and a master's degree from the University of Texas in 1945. From 1947 to 1952, Standifer was employed as the recreation director for the Cactus Ordnance Works in Cactus, Texas. The plant opened in 1942 to manufacture ammonia nitrate for use in munitions for the United States government. By the time Standifer and his family arrived in Cactus in 1947, the plant had been converted to produce ammonia and other chemicals used in fertilizers. After earning his doctorate in education from the University of Michigan, he was hired by Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth where he taught safety, health, and physical education from 1957 to 1978. Lillian Lela Hill Standifer (1924-2014) was born in Hallettsville, Texas to Scott Shelby Hill (1890-1966) and Dr. Beth Michel Hill (1984-1973). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in physical education in 1944 and married James Standifer in July of the same year. She and James had two children: Jo Lynn Standifer Moore (1944-2000) and James William Standifer, Jr. (1948-1973). She taught physical education in Fort Worth from 1958 to her retirement in 1981. Her interests included genealogy and Texas history.

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