JAMES R. DIXON

James Ronald Dixon (Ronnie) was born in Gary, Indiana on August 17, 1940, to James Louis and Gertrude Dixon. He was the first of five children and the only boy. During his childhood years, he was a newspaper carrier and earned the ‘Outstanding Newspaper Carrier Award’ three times, as well as three separate trips to New York City and Washington, D.C.

James attended the Gary Public School system, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1958. After high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps serving four years and was honorably discharged after the Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved in 1962.  

James worked in transportation and automotive roles: as a bus driver for Gary Transit Company (1963–1966), a route delivery driver for United Parcel Service in Chicago (1966), and a route salesman for Coca‑Cola Company in Gary (1967–1971), earning multiple sales awards.

In 1968, he met his future wife, Jo Ann Green; they married in 1971.  Jo Ann’s encouragement led him to   earnestly pursue his college education in 1969. After graduating from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1973, James joined the American Motors Sales Corporation (AMSC) in the Chicago Zone, marking the start of his   professional career in the corporate automotive industry.

In the early to mid-1980s, James and Jo Ann were blessed to have an automobile dealership for several years, experiencing noteworthy achievements including, but not limited to, being a top volume AMC dealership for three years and being listed in Black Enterprise Magazine’s June 1986 edition as one of ‘The Top 100 Black Businesses’ based on the 1985 gross revenues generated. After dealing with some changes at the corporate level, James transitioned to working for the State of Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). He held a few management positions and retired from the Indiana BMV in 2009. In his retirement years, James was able to continue his interest in cars and driving, while working part-time at Avis Car Rental, LLC alongside other part-time retirees. He transported vehicles to and from different Avis retail locations throughout the state.

James accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1982. He immediately became an active Christian participating in various ministries wherever he lived and worshipped. After his move to Indianapolis, he and his wife joined Zion Hope Church where he became an usher and served as president for many years. As part of the user board’s fellowship and outreach activities, he helped organize visitations to nursing homes. James was also a Sunday School teacher and served on many boards and committees at the church. Other activities and organizations he participated in are Starfish Initiative, Inc. Mentoring Program, the NAACP, and a local Marine Corps League chapter.

James was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Ann, and parents, James L. and Gertrude. He is survived by children, Carmelita Sapp, Michael Dixon and Marc Dixon; sisters, Shirley Dixon, Betty Dixon, Lois Evans, and Jacquelyn White, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a host of family and friends.

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