James Ken Newman, 81, Denton, died Oct. 4, 2025. In 1966, he earned a B.B.A. from North Texas and then earned his master's degree in health care administration in 1970 from Trinity University. Newman dedicated his life to advancing health care as founder and CEO of Horizon Health Corp., where he pioneered innovations in behavioral healthcare management, and later as founder of Springstone Inc.

He made contributions to the North Texas community on numerous boards, including the board of the UNT Foundation. He was a former trustee of the Professional Development Institute at UNT and had chaired the President’s Council. He also was a member of the McConnell Society and the 1890 Society and a founding member of the Diamond Eagles Society. He received UNT’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997.

Funds he created included the Newman Family Foundation UNT Nest Builders Endowment, Newman Foundation TAMS (Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science) Endowment, Newman Foundation TAMS Alumnus Scholarship, and the Nancy Ann Newman, Ph.D., Memorial Scholarship Endowment in Library Science, in memory of his sister Nancy (’59, ’71 M.S., ’84 Ph.D.). He also supported the Kuehne Speaker Series, the Diamond Eagles Excellence Fund and Athletics.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Ann Newman.

Memorials may be made to the UNT Foundation at https://giving.unt.edu/unt-foundation/index.html.