James Michael McGroarty

James Michael McGroarty was born in Kerrville, Texas, on April 5, 1955. After a courageous journey, James was called to his eternal home on April 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. He is now at rest, restored, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, leaving behind a legacy defined by adventure, resilience, and an unwavering spirit. He was a man larger than life—someone whose story felt more like legend than ordinary life, and whose impact will be felt for generations to come.

Early Life and Heritage

The son of Patrick and Mary McGroarty, James was raised with his family's strong ties to the community of Bandera. He enjoyed a childhood most would envy, in a way that only Bandera, Texas, could offer. James attended St. Joseph Catholic School and St. John's Seminary in the summer of 1962, later graduating from Bandera High School in 1973. He also attended the Arizona Automotive Institute (AAI).

James's grandmother, Mary Boyle, and her brothers, "The Boyle Brothers," started the first M. Boyle General Mercantile Est. in 1904, located on none other than 11th Street in Bandera. The Boyle/McGroarty family was instrumental in commercial business, banking, labor, and real estate, as it continues to be today. He was very proud to be part of a multigenerational Irish family that settled in Bandera.

At the age of eight, James went to work at the Bandera Ice Company, owned by his cousin Pat Boyle. He also worked at the deer storage facility and the local ice house, beer joint, pool, and domino hall. Oh, the stories he had! He would tell a story and say, "Most people would not believe a word of these stories." During his years at the ice house, he would also help his mom, Mary, at the world-famous OST Cafe. He would help in the kitchen washing dishes, cleaning tables, and taking out the trash. James always said he would never be in the food service business—a statement that came back to bite him years later when he was convinced by his friend George Baccash to invest in a startup venture with the firm JR Partners out of Dallas. Today, that venture is better known as the startup company and founders of Outback Steakhouse Corp.

The Oilfield and Early Ventures

While attending AAI, he decided to take a job in the oilfield with Sun Drilling Company. In 1974, Sun Drilling had a setback, and James returned to Bandera. That same year, James had the idea that he wanted to open his own "liquor by the drink" bar. As fate would have it, the original watering hole, the Frontier Purple Cow, had been devastated by fire. He knew if he could reopen the Purple Cow, it would be a hit in his community. Being 19, James was under the age of 21 required to acquire a liquor license, but due to the Vietnam War, the drinking age had been lowered to 18. James opened his first bar at 19. He went on to open Foolish Pleasure (named after the racehorse) as well as Lupe's Tejano Bar in Hondo, Texas. 

During his time in the bar business, James harbored the dream of working for one of the major oil companies. The opportunity was presented to him at his mom's cafe (OST) in late 1974. James packed his bags and reported to Houston, Texas, and shortly thereafter went on to Saudi Arabia.

James spent the majority of his life working for Aramco offshore and on oil rigs—a career that reflected his grit, endurance, and unmatched work ethic. He was never one to shy away from hard work or difficult conditions, and he carried that same determination into every aspect of his life. He believed in doing more than talking—living fully, working tirelessly, and embracing every opportunity with fearless conviction.

Distinguished Career and Global Impact

During his 20-year career, James held numerous management and distinguished positions and was honored with multiple awards. He was part of a team that set 19 world records in the production of offshore pipeline laid in a 24-hour period in water depths over 2,000 feet. Another world record was set in the completion of one of the wonders of the offshore world, "The Norwegian Trench." This was achieved by laying a bridge underwater in depths of 2,500 feet, in seas reaching over 75 feet and winds over 100 mph.

For five years, James worked side by side with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. He went on to be named "The New Generation of an Oilman" in World Oil magazine in 1982. From 1983 to 1994, James worked in the Northern Area, producing and exploring both offshore and onshore in the largest oilfield in the world.

From 1990 to 1991, in Operational Command, he was personally appointed by royal decree by His Royal Highness King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to control the cleanup of the world's largest oil spill (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Persian Gulf) during the Gulf War conflict. In 1992 and 1993, he received the King's Commission to head up pre-arrival arrangements for King Fahd at all facilities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Saudi Aramco. Only three Americans had ever received this honor. In 1994, having had a prestigious and full career, James retired from the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.

Shamrock Environmental Corp.

After retirement, James moved his family back to Greensboro, North Carolina, and cofounded Shamrock Environmental Corp. Shamrock quickly grew into a 13-acre, state-ofthe-art waste facility licensed by the EPA and OSHA. It was federally and state-licensed as a "significant discharger," discharging 556,000 gallons of wastewater a day. Along with its licensing, Shamrock had seven offices in multiple states. With vision, determination and an instinct for opportunity, he saw possibility where others did not. Through that vision, he helped build the company into a thriving multimillion-dollar enterprise. Shamrock was chosen to handle major projects such as:

1998: Virginia Power river spill

1999: Norfolk Southern train derailment

2000: DuPont facility fire

2001 : Anthrax cleanup at the NBC Tower in New York, Brentwood postal facility in Washington, D.C., Mid-Manhattan postal facility, and the New Jersey postal facility.

During his 12 years at the helm of Shamrock Environmental, and in true James fashion, he was awarded the following:

1994, 1995, 1997, 2001: Businessman of the Year, Greensboro, North Carolina

2002: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas (East Coast)

2003 & 2004: National Oil Recyclers Association (NORA) Man of the Year

2003: Mass Mutual Business of the Year / East Coast

2003-2004: National Entrepreneur of the Year, National Board

2005: DuPont Environmental Stewardship National Award (presented at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.)

2004-2005: Deacon/Elder at Peace United Church of Christ, Greensboro, NC

2005-2006: Board of Directors for the Greensboro Symphony

2005-2006: Served on one Fortune 200 board and three boards in the textile, pulp, and paper industries

2005: Rotarian of the Year, Greensboro, NC; Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotary International

2006: Chair of the United Way / Tocqueville Society

Returning Home: 11th Street Cowboy Bar

In 2006, James returned to Bandera. Noticing a major decline in tourism at the dude ranches and a lack of quality live music since his departure, his focus became making Bandera a Texas destination for years to come. In late 2006, James started yet another chapter by purchasing a bar in the original part of Bandera, featuring buildings from the late 1800s built with native rock and lapboard. The 11th Street Cowboy Bar's wooden "front bar" was built in 1932.

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar was established in 2006. That same year, a life partnership was formed between James and Stella; he often referred to them as "The Team." Starting with a capacity of 246, James quickly realized that "boots on the dance floor meant dollars in the cash register." They secured a long-term lease on adjacent property in 2008. Stella opened her "Harley and Horses" marketplace at 11th Street to sell merchandise. With the expansion, the capacity grew to 2,186. James's dream of Bandera having a premier Country Western dance hall and branding the town as "The Hill Country Music Capital" was realized.

The 11th Street Cowboy Bar became a world-famous destination for all walks of life—from cowboys and cowgirls to bikers and business people. James was also known as the "King of Cowboy Mardi Gras," a vision that grew into a four-day event with over 15,000 visitors, contributing heavily to the city's economy.

Through the years, 11th Street enjoyed immense publicity:

2008: Host location for CNN during the Texas Presidential Primary.

2011: Featured location for Good Morning America with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Featured on: The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie's The Simple Life, and networks in Denmark, Dubai, France, and Spain.

His efforts led to features in the Library of Congress, Cowboys & Indians, Life Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Texas Highways, Texas Monthly, USA Today, and the Houston Chronicle. The West Magazine voted 11th Street one of the Top Ten Dance Halls in the nation, ranked alongside Billy Bob's and Gruene Hall. On any given night, you might meet actors, politicians, or country stars alongside good ol' Bandera natives and locals trying to sort out the newcomers from the tourists—all with the same goal: just looking to relax and enjoy their time at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar.

James was honored by Gov. Greg Abbott with a proclamation naming James a "Texas Living Legend." He was also inducted into the Honky Tonk Hall of Fame, and the City of Bandera proclaimed April 5th as "James McGroarty Day" in Bandera, Texas.

A Teacher and Explorer

To his family, James was so much more than his work. He was a teacher, an explorer, and a guiding force, He taught his children to dance the Texas Two-Step, to travel boldly before it was ever considered trendy, and to always "take the trip"—no matter how wild or uncertain. He believed in doing dangerous things safely, in letting imagination lead the way, and in refusing to accept anything less than a life fully lived.

James gave his family a childhood rooted in global adventure. From life in Saudi Arabia to overlanding through the Rub' al Khali desert, from African safaris to elephant rides in Thailand, from snorkeling in the Red Sea to floating in the Dead Sea—his life was a passport stamped with unforgettable experiences. He surfed in Bali, rode camels near the pyramids, journeyed on horseback to Petra, and skied black diamonds without hesitation. Though his passing feels far too soon, his legacy is enduring. His stories will live on—retold with laughter, awe, and gratitude—especially by those who are quietly thankful there were no cameras to capture it all. His spirit lives on in his family, in the lessons he taught, and in the bold way he showed others how to live.

He was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed. His family finds comfort in imagining him now—free, at peace, and perhaps still chasing adventure, with the music of Stevie Nicks, Dire Straits, and Jake Hooker and the Outsiders playing loudly in the background. James McGroarty leaves behind a legacy of courage, curiosity, and a life lived without limits.

"He will never be forgotten"

A memorial service will be held on May 31, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at 11 St. Bar in Bandera, Texas.