On February 17, 2026, the Victorville City Council unanimously voted to name the City’s new library after one of Victorville’s greatest advocates, James L. Cox. Jim’s life has been one defined by service to our country, City, and the community he so loves.
Jim’s tireless work ethic was developed as a young child working on his family’s farm in the Ozark region of Missouri. Although his farm chores took precedence, Jim still found time to attend school and play varsity baseball and basketball for four years.
In 1957 at the age of 17, he enlisted the United States Navy, for a six-year term. He became a medical corpsman and served three years active duty and three years in the Reserves.
Jim entered San Diego City College and attained his associate’s degree in accounting and data processing while working full time.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in political science from San Diego State University in December 1965. He would later attain a master’s in public administration and a Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Southern California.
His first foray into municipal government came in January 1966 when he landed a job with the City of Indio, Calif. Here, he put his data processing skills to automating the department’s billing and payment systems.
In November 1967, the skills he developed in finance propelled him to a new position leading the City of Victorville’s Finance and Human Resources Departments.
With the City of Victorville, he steadily progressed through the ranks until accepting his appointment to City Manager in December 1969. This was a poignant time with the City having been incorporated just seven years earlier. Jim served as Victorville’s City Manager for the next 30 years.
A few notable accomplishments during his tenure include the formation of the Victorville Fire Department, Victorville’s possession of the George Air Force Base after its closure by the Department of Defense in 1988, and increased retail development throughout the City, including the first Walmart in California.
In 1987, Jim was appointed by former Governor George Deukmejian to serve on the New County Formation Committee, and Attorney General Dan Lundgren appointed him to the Crime and Justice Committee.
Along the way, Jim found time to earn a lifetime teaching credential from the State of California and shared his knowledge as an instructor at the University of California San Bernardino and Victor Valley College.
Jim’s tremendous contributions to the City of Victorville led the Daily Press to rank Jim third on its list of individuals who had the greatest impact on the High Desert during the 20th Century as determined by a reader’s poll.
After his retirement from the City of Victorville in November 1999, Jim continued to serve his community on the Board of Directors of the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District, Victor Valley Hospital District Foundation Board, Victor Valley Hospital Board, and the Victor Valley Water District Board of Directors.
Jim left retirement twice to once again take the helm of two local municipalities. He served as Town Manager for the Town of Apple Valley from September 2007 to October 2008, then Victorville City Manager from January 2009 to June 2011.
In 2012, Jim was elected to the Victorville City Council where he continued to serve in a new capacity until 2020. He was appointed by his fellow Council Members to be Mayor from 2012 to 2014 and Mayor Pro Tem from 2014 to 2016. During his time on the City Council, Jim served on numerous state, regional and local boards and commissions, including the State of California Redevelopment Association Board, Victor Valley Transit Board of Directors, Victorville Wastewater Reclamation Authority, and the Revenue and Taxation Committee for the League of California Cities.
Now, in his third retirement, Jim continues to serve his community as a volunteer and member of Rotary International, Order of Elks, and the Victor Valley AM-Vets Post 7007.
Jim has seven children and remains active in the Victorville community. He treasures time spent with his sons working on his classic cars.
Jim also enjoys golfing. Two of his fondest memories are meeting the great Arnold Palmer and golfing a match in Palm Springs with Jimmy Colbert.
You can still find Jim on the Green Tree Golf Course next to the library named in his honor or driving one of his classic cars, a ’66 Mustang, ’64 Corvair Convertible, or ’62 Corvair Coupe.
We thank you, Jim, for your legacy of service to the great City of Victorville.