James Winston "Buster" Corley

James Winston Corley, known to everyone as Buster, died on January 2, 2023. He was born 72 years earlier to the day, on January 2, 1951, in Brookhaven, Mississippi, to James Winston, Sr. and Nancy Corley. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Leacy Suddath Corley, and his daughter Kate Corley Lassiter.

Buster was an absolute legend to those who knew him. That was partly because he was the “Buster” in Dave & Buster’s, but also because he touched so many lives. People took a job at one of his restaurants expecting to work as a waiter or bartender for just a short time, but instead, thanks to Buster, found themselves with a new purpose in life and a decades-long career.

At 17, Buster started dating his high school sweetheart, Leacy Suddath. After graduation in 1969 he started his hospitality career as a waiter for TGI Fridays in Jackson, Mississippi. He worked his way through the ranks and was recruited to open TGI Fridays’ third location in Little Rock, Arkansas, and serve as its General Manager. In 1978, after TGI Fridays’ fired him, he went down the street to the train station and with Leacy’s help, he opened Buster’s. There, he met his future business partner, who would become his best friend, Dave Corriveau, who at the time owned Slick Willys, an arcade and game room also at the train station. After seeing the customers rotate between the two locations, Dave and Buster hatched the idea of combining the two places, moving it to Dallas and making it grander in size.

The first Dave & Buster’s opened in 1982. The order of their names was decided not by a coin flip (although we know how much Dave and Buster both enjoyed an excellent bet) ,but at the suggestion of a good friend, Dennis Payne, who also chose D&B’s classic orange and blue colors, designed the logo and other artwork.

Buster lived by the motto that “Everyone Is Somebody” and should be treated with kindness and respect. His passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence and his deep love for what he always called his “team” are truly unparalleled.

Two stories — both from the first year that Dave & Buster’s opened — will explain Buster to his core. Mike Plunkett reminded us, at the time D&B was brand new, business was slow and the restaurant wasn’t making much money. Buster had hired a woman to be a cocktail server. On her first day of training, she brought in her uniform and said, “Thank you for the opportunity, but I have to give this back”. When Buster asked why, she explained that her mother had just passed away and she needed to deal with her affairs. Buster told her to keep the uniform, take the time she needed and come back when she was ready. Then he wrote her a check to cover three weeks of training up front. He’d only met her once.

The second story comes from Cory Haynes, a bartender at the first Dave & Buster’s. Buster would often “check on” the glasses, liquor and other stuff at D&B’s bars. One day, Cory caught him putting his own money (which he didn’t have much of at the time) in the tip jars for the bartenders. Did Buster ever own up to doing this? Absolutely not. But Cory understood it was his way of keeping people motivated to do a great job, even during slow times. Cory had taken the bartending job as a temporary Christmas time gig , but he liked working with Buster so much that he stayed for 27 years, eventually becoming the company’s Vice President of Amusement.

At home Buster enjoyed a cold glass of champagne on his back porch every night with Leacy, talking about D&B and all of the people who worked there over the years. He enjoyed going to the lake and keeping up with his vast group of friends. Following his retirement (OK, semi-retirement) in 2007, Leacy took him through the ABC's of finding a hobby. He became an avid skeet shooter, sailed and mentored young entrepreneurs. This past year and a half he could most likely be found with his first grandson, Dallas Lassiter, either in his arms or leading him around the yard.

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Buster achieved so much in life, but he never wanted any credit for it. "You’re only as strong as the team you surround yourself with", he said. His mother, Nancy; his father, James; and his best friend, Dave, preceded him in death ,but the rest of his “team” remains: Leacy, his high school sweetheart; his only daughter, Kate; his sisters, Allycen Priest (Bogue Chitto, MS) and Becki Pickett (Nashville, TN); four nieces; two nephews; a son-in-law Calen Lassiter; and his lifelong friend, Lupy Montalvo. His pride and joy were his two grandsons, James Dallas Lassiter (1.5) and Calen Parks Lassiter (4M), to whom he was known as “B”. (Kate always called him “Buster Bunny” and pushed for them to call him “Bunny”, but he said no. In fact, he’d hate knowing that “Bunny” made it in here!)

Thank you to everyone that worked alongside Buster, whether it was at TGI Fridays, the restaurant Buster’s or Dave & Buster’s. You’re the reason it was possible for Buster to live out his dreams.

In place of flowers, please donate to the American Stroke Foundation, if your heart desires. His funeral will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church on January 12th at 3 PM, open to the public. Afterwards a celebration of life for friends, co-workers and loved ones will be at Dave & Buster’s in Dallas.

Also, Buster — Daddy — sorry we went over budget with the obituary, but you were too epic to keep it short! We love you with all our hearts forever and always!

A funeral service for Buster will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX, 75205.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Corley family.