James Bolden

James Arthur Bolden, affectionately known to all as "Jim", born July 5, 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas to his parents, Roscoe M. Bolden and Ocie Mae Stewart Bolden, also of Fort Worth, Texas. James was one of four children born to the Bolden's. Siblings, Ella Marie Brown Bolden of St. Louis Missouri, Dorothy Mae Bolden and Leslie Raymond Bolden both of San Francisco, California all deceased, each had children. James graduated and received a diploma on June 10, 1949 from Manual Training High School in Denver, Colorado. During his high school years, his accomplishments included being the first African American to Letter in 4-Sport athletics: football, basketball, track and baseball; he took All-City and All-State Championships. He attended Denver University on a scholarship playing collegiate football in 1951 until he joined the military. James joined the Army division of the armed forces on March 5, 1991. He obtained the rank of Sergeant while serving in the Korean War. He represented the Army inter-service athletics program, playing basketball and football, as well as a member of the Military special services, with an Honorable Discharge in 1952. James played a short stint in the minor leagues with the Cleveland Indians Baseball team. He also played with the infamous Harlem Globetrotters Baseball and Basketball teams for a number of years. Jim was best and well known for his BEST kept "secret" sauce, he and his father created, Brother Roscoe's Restaurant of Bar-B-Que ribs, chicken, and the Absolute BEST Bar-B-Que sauce! Not just in Denver. But in the whole West! His sauce was so good; people drove for miles and miles and paid him to make them gallons of it! His secret sauce was such a secret that he only shared it with one soul, after his father passed away! He groomed, mentored and trained that person to follow in his BBQ footsteps, thus leaving and passing along his legacy. Not long after joining the Harlem Globe Trotters, at age 28 he met and married Annie Ruth Elliott Bolden at age 24 of Waco, Texas in Raton New, Mexico on November 19, 1958. Born to this union was a son, Leslie Raymond. James Arthur Bolden said farewell to all who knew and loved him at 6:29 p.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at home in Denver, Colorado peacefully in his sleep. Jim leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Annie Ruth Bolden of Denver; his children, James Arthur (Carolyn L. Aust) Bolden, IV, of Denver, Kimmi A. Bolden of Orlando, FL, Ronald Dewayne Bolden of Key West FL, Leslie Raymond Bolden of Houston, Texas, his grandchildren Rebecca L. Bolden, Zachary J. Bolden, all of Denver, Brian Eugene Bolden of Dallas, TX, Ronald Marcus Bolden of Los Angeles, CA, Howard Wayne Bolden, Shanice Bolden, and Alicia Renee Southern all of Denver, Leslie Shane Bolden, Taylor Keyanne Bolden both of Atlanta Georgia, and a host of other great-grandchildren, niece, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 2/28/2017 at 9:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 2/28/2017 at 11:00 AM - Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church - 3520 East 28th Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 2/28/2017 - Interment following the service. Fort Logan National Cemetery - 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 2/28/2017 - Reception following interment. Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church - 3520 East 28th Avenue, Denver, CO