Gamma Xi Boulé

At 6 feet 6 inches tall, James Cash is an imposing and hard-to-miss man when he enters a room. It is easy to imagine him playing basketball at an elite level as a young man when

James (aka Jim) Cash attended Texas Christian University from 1967 to 1969 and was the

first African American to play in the Southwest Conference, eventually ranking fifth on the school's all-time scoring list and fourth in career rebounds while being selected as an 

Academic All-American. He was inducted into the TCU Letterman’s Hall of Fame in 1984

and Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 2016.

Perhaps, not as easy for some to imagine as his athletic skill and physical attributes, Jim was gifted intellectually and imbued with an intangible drive to succeed. However, it has been no surprise that Jim Cash’s academic achievements and business acumen later matched and went beyond the acclaim he achieved on the basketball court. But without a doubt, Jim’s athletic prowess has been an important part of the man that he has become. As a highly respected professional in the high-tech space, the time Jim Cash has spent in classrooms and board rooms has produced a lifetime of sustaining and priceless experiences for the Cash family. Volumes will be written about Jim Cash and his lifetime. A mantra he is fond of reciting is, “Always focus on the positive. Be aware of the negatives. But put the emphasis on the on the positive.”

The few words here can only give the reader a glimpse of the reason for the truly

magnificent accomplishments of this Boule brother, Jim Cash. This April 2022, the Cash name adorned a building on the campus of Harvard University. This is, in part, recognition of the role Jim Cash has played at the university for more than forty years since his he joined the faculty in 1976 and was later granted tenure as a full professor in 1985, the first Black named in that position at the Harvard Business School. Among others, Jim Cash has taught courses in the MBA Program, the Executive Education Program, the Program for Global Leadership, and the Advanced Management Program. (Twenty-five years ago, Jim Cash and I met in my JPMorgan offices in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss his program and summer placement possibilities for a select number of his graduate students. It was an eventful summer; and a number of prominent universities in the United States were genuinely committed to lending 

a hand to the new South Africa as it took its place as a democratic, capitalistic 

government. Although we had no further conversations that summer, Jim Cash continued his work with his graduate students. Along with others, they made an important contribution at that point in the emergence of the new South Africa.)

Among his associates and others close to him, it was known that Jim Cash abhorred the 

limelight. When the discussion among campus planners turned to the issue of a name for the former Glass House, Jim Cash’s name was prominent in the discussion. Wagers were made that he would not agree to have his name on the building. Reluctantly, after being given certain specific assurances, among them that the renamed building would house the HBS diversity and inclusion programs, Jim agreed to have his name on the building. 

The Glass House was named after a US Treasury Secretary, who reportedly supported racist voting policies, according to current Dean Srikant Datar, speaking on behalf of 

the Harvard Business School in accounts of the HBS’s deliberations. The name 

change was long overdue. Former Dean Nitin Nohria, who held the position during the 

deliberations about the name change of the building, spoke poignantly about Jim at the 

naming ceremony before a gathering of family members, fellow academicians, former 

students, business associates, and friends. “What makes Jim so special is that he has endured so many of life’s injustices with grace.” 

As racial debates permeate many academic communities throughout the country, the renaming of the CASH House has meaning and significance beyond the act itself of recognizing a truly worthy giant among academicians. It is a statement of historic import when what we do is as important—if not, more so—as what we say. 

The formality of the naming ceremony of CASH House coincided with the 50th 

anniversary celebration of the marriage of Clemmie and Jim. Either one of these events 

would be cause enough for celebration for the Cashes, their family, and many friends; but 

celebration of the two occasions at the same time was a source of immense joy and jubilation. Tari Cash, the Cashes’s adult daughter with a budding, multifaceted golfing business in the District of Columbia, managed the MC duties with professional aplomb, roasting as well as toasting her clearly beloved parents and, especially, her dad. Derek, the taciturn younger brother, a former assistant DA in NYC and currently with the Department of Justice, gave a poignant statement of love, respect, and admiration for his dad. Two long-time friends, Dr. Bettye Kearse and Dr. Hassell McClellan spoke of their respective relationships that were decades in the making and solidly grounded on personally profound experiences of a lifetime. 

The surprise of the evening was the appearance of the renowned Harry Connick, Jr., who brought the audience to its feet with several of his songs. One, in particular, Midnight Train to Georgia, written by Jim Weatherly and made popular by Gladys Knight and the Pips, gave Harry Connie Jr. an opportunity to get the audience involved. Two dozen members of the audience, including Jim and Clemmie, joined him on stage and sang the designated melody and chorus portions of the song with help from the audience. It was the end of a wonderful evening and a prelude to the award celebration, which followed on Monday.

Resplendent in a stunning pink dress with a matching shawl, Clemmie Cash was the 

lead spokesperson for the afternoon activities. As always, she was self-effacing and her 

remarks pithy. The luncheon ceremony preceded the actual naming of the CASH House. An assemblage of distinguished academicians and former colleagues from HBS spoke. 

From the tributes paid, it was clear that Jim was a friend and advisor to far too many to list here. Several dozen gathered before the newly named CASH House for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dean Datar and Harvard President Larry Bacow were the principal spokespersons. 

As one of the pillars of the ceremony, the Dean’s remarks were laudatory but brief. President Bacow said that he was not scheduled to be on the program, but he was exercising the privilege of his office for a speaking role that afternoon. President Bacow said in part, “We are honoring Jim for his decency. You inspire all of us to be the person you are, may we all aspire to live up to the standard  that you have established being you.”

It was a fitting end to a wonderful dual occasion.