Services for James L. “Babe” Hallmark, 86 of Tyler, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2012 in the chapel of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home with Dr. David O. Dykes officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Babe was born October 4, 1925 in Wellington to the late James Loyd and Norabell Wells Hallmark and passed away February 9, 2012 in Tyler. Babe was best known in Tyler as the backfield coach at Tyler Junior College from 1950- 1963 and then head coach at Tyler Junior College from 1963- 1969. His overall coaching record was 148-60 with eight teams in Bowl games. He recently became a member of the TJC Circle of Honor. He was a general partner in Hibbs-Hallmark & Company.

Babe was married for 63 years to Nelleva Denton Hallmark, who preceded him in 2007. They had one daughter, Connie Lee, a retired High School Counselor, who now lives in Austin. The Hallmark Family was among the original founding Members of Green Acres Baptist Church.

Babe was honored by the 12^th Man Foundation for his continued support of Texas A&M University. He lettered in football as quarterback for Texas A&M, made All-Southwest Conference, was Nationally 3^rd in passing and fifth in total offense; and made All-American Third Team. He was the quarterback for A&M in the 1944 Orange Bowl game against LSU. He was known as “Babe” of the Kiddie Corps, because the average age of the team was 17 1/2.

He was in the Air Force 1944-1945 and played with the Air Force Training Command as quarterback and halfback. His team won the Service Championship of the United States.

He received offers to play pro football from the Giants, the Bears, and the Redskins and accepted the Redskins. There he injured his knee and returned to his beloved East Texas to get his Master’s Degree and coach at TJC.

He is survived by his daughter, Connie; grandchildren, Chris and Mallori Ramey, Brittany Ramey, David Estlund, Callie and Ty Neatherlin, and James Ty Ingram

Pallbearers will be Chris Ramey, David Estlund, Ty Neatherlin, Ty Ingram, Mike Breedlove and Billy E. Hibbs Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Wells, Red Burbitt and Bill Soyars.

Memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Alliance of NE Texas 211 Winchester Tyler, Texas 75701.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 6:30 Friday, February 10, 2012 at the funeral home