Valuable
Justin lives on in Cowtown spirit

Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”

There’s no doubt that John Justin Jr. was a successful man.

As the chairman and CEO of Justin Industries, he expanded the family boot business into a multi-million dollar operation. As the mayor of Fort Worth, he was instrumental in beginning the discussions with Dallas officials, which led to the construction of a regional airport. As chairman of the Fort Worth Stock Show, he championed Cowtown. As a TCU trustee, his contributions will impact the university for years to come.

When Justin died Monday, he left a wife, two children, numerous friends and a long record of civic leadership. In other words, he left a legacy.

Justin lived his life with value.

He took pride in his work. He found joy in his passions. He cheered his alma mater with spirit verging on reckless abandon.
Those who knew Justin described him as “a fine leader,” “a person who gave generously” and “an icon you hope you will never lose.” To them, he was more than just a well-known businessman, a civic leader and a philanthropist. He was the friend they called at the end of a rough day. He was the loyal fan cheering loudly from his seat in Amon Carter Stadium, whether the Frogs won or lost. He was the husband and father who shared his love for western culture without ever owning a horse.

Justin’s contributions to Fort Worth and TCU were phenomenal.

But leaving a legacy is not necessarily about leaving tangible reminders of life behind. It’s about forever touching the hearts of the people you meet. John Justin did both. The next Stock Show will not be the same without him. Neither will the next TCU home football game.

Most of us never knew him, never met him. But as far as legacies go, most of us aspire to live like he did.

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