James Decker - Inspired Leadership in the New West

James Decker is a farmer, attorney, and the Mayor of Stamford, TX, a tight-knit agricultural community located about 45 minutes north of Abilene. James grew up in Stamford, left for college and law school, but immediately returned home to begin his career-- his love of his hometown and desire to contribute to its success far outweighed any material success that could result from practicing law in a big city. With his service-oriented mindset and natural leadership abilities, James worked his way up from city council to Mayor, all while working as an attorney and growing his family.

Like so many devoted small-town mayors, James is driven by a deep desire to see his community thrive, despite the many forces that seem to be conspiring against small-town America. He approaches local politics with an inspiring amount of focus and determination, and he’s not afraid to seek out new ideas from a variety of sometimes-unexpected sources. His weekly essays are worth a read whether you live in Stamford or not-- he explores subjects ranging from the nuts and bolts of economic development to the writings of Wendell Berry to quotations from Theodore Roosevelt.

James is a shining example of the positive impact that one passionate person can have when he or she decides to lead with enthusiasm, optimism, and old-fashioned hard work. We covered a lot in our conversation, starting with his upbringing in Stamford and some of the history of the town. We talk about how he chose to return to Stamford after law school, despite having plenty of other opportunities elsewhere. We discuss the challenges facing rural America and how he chooses to approach economic development with an aggressive, proactive posture. We also talk about his mentors and heroes, and how his love of history and biographies inform his leadership. We obviously talk a lot about Wendell Berry and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as his favorite books and our shared love of the greatest movie of all time, Road House.

The West is full of many small agricultural towns, and many of those communities share the same opportunities and challenges facing Stamford. I think you’ll be inspired by this episode, and be sure to check the notes for links to everything we discuss. Enjoy!

https://mountainandprairie.com/james-decker/

https://mountainandprairie.com/bozeman/

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:15 - How James describes his work
• 5:00 - Stamford, Texas described
• 7:00 - Family history
• 8:30 - Growing up in Stamford
• 9:30 - Choice to return to Stamford
• 15:30 - Local heroes and mentors
• 18:00 - What creates community pride?
• 22:30 - James’s weekly essays
• 26:00 - Decision to run for mayor
• 28:00 - Biggest surprise of being mayor
• 31:30 - Biggest challenge facing Stamford
• 35:30 - Economic opportunities in small towns
• 39:45 - Sources of inspirations, Wendell Berry and TR
• 45:15 - Seeking out different opinions
• 47:00 - National and local politics
• 51:45 - How kids have changed James’s perspective
• 57:00 - Importance of aggression
• 1:00:00 - Best Texas history books
• 1:02:30 - Favorite books
• 1:08:50 - Favorite films
• 11:11:30 - Hobbies away from work
• 1:13:30 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:15:30 - Best advice ever received
• 1:16:30 - Request of the listeners
• 1:18:00 - Connect with James