Ever wonder who captured the heart of Hollywood icon Raquel Welch before she became a star? James Westley Welch wasn’t just another name in celebrity history. He was the first husband of one of Hollywood’s most famous actresses, and their love story started way before the cameras and red carpets. Born in 1940 in San Diego, California, James lived a life that mixed hard work, young love, and real-life drama that most people only see in movies.
Who Was James Westley Welch?
James Westley Welch was Raquel Welch’s first husband. Their relationship started as a classic high school romance in San Diego. He wasn’t born into Hollywood glamour or fame. Instead, he came from a working-class background and made his living as a tuna fisherman before moving into the business world.
What makes James significant in Hollywood history isn’t about movies or acting. It’s about being the man who Raquel Welch never forgot. Even though they got divorced in 1964, Raquel kept his last name for her entire life. She became famous as “Raquel Welch,” not by her birth name Jo Raquel Tejada. That’s pretty powerful when you think about it.
James worked in different jobs throughout his life. He started as a tuna fisherman, which was tough physical work on the Pacific coast. Later, he switched careers and became a publicist. He helped brands and companies get noticed. By 1973, he’d climbed his way up to become president of a multi-dollar conglomerate. Not bad for a high school dropout from La Jolla, California.
Early Life and Family Background
James Westley Welch was born in 1940 in San Diego, California. This was right around World War II. He grew up with his mother Tahnee Land and three sisters named Jan, Jerry, and Judy. Growing up with all those women probably taught him a thing or two about life.
His family had some interesting connections. James was the stepson of the founder of Fed Mart Corporation. This was a big deal back then. It gave him a pretty privileged position compared to other kids at school. He was actually one of the few students at La Jolla High School who owned a car. Can you imagine being a teenager in the 1950s with your own ride? That definitely made him stand out.
But having money and connections doesn’t mean everything was perfect. James still had to figure out his own path in life. His early life in Southern California shaped who he’d become. It also set the stage for meeting the girl who would change everything.
High School Years at La Jolla
James attended La Jolla High School in San Diego during the 1950s era. He wasn’t just some regular student sitting in the back of class. James played on the football team, which made him pretty popular around school. Football players usually got a lot of attention. James was no different.
But here’s where his story takes an interesting turn. During his senior year, James made a bold decision. He dropped out of La Jolla High School to work on a tuna clipper headed to Peru. This wasn’t some small adventure. Working on a tuna clipper meant months at sea doing hard, dangerous work in the fishing industry.
Why would someone drop out right before graduating? Maybe James wanted to prove himself. Maybe he needed the money. Or maybe he just wanted an adventure before settling down. Whatever the reason, that trip to Peru would end up changing his whole life. When he came back all tanned and fit from working on the boat, he caught someone’s eye in a major way.
Meeting Raquel: A High School Romance
The love story between James Westley Welch and Raquel Welch started at La Jolla High School. She was a cheerleader. He was a football player. It sounds like something from a movie, right? But this was real life in the 1950s.
Raquel was only 15 years old when they first met. Her real name was Jo Raquel Tejada. She had Bolivian heritage from her father’s side. She wasn’t famous yet, just a regular girl with dreams. And when she saw James, something clicked. Years later, she’d describe their connection as love at first sight.
When James returned from his adventure in Peru on the tuna clipper, everything changed. He looked different. More mature and confident. Raquel was so taken with him that she made a huge decision. She dropped out of San Diego State University just to be with James. Think about that. She gave up college for this guy. That’s how strong their young love was.
Their high school romance wasn’t just some casual dating thing. This was serious. They were crazy about each other in that intense way that only teenagers can be. And they weren’t going to let anything stop them from being together.
Marriage and Family Life
On May 8, 1959, James Westley Welch and Raquel got married in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was just 19 years old. They didn’t have some fancy celebrity marriage with photographers and expensive everything. Instead, they had a budget wedding because they didn’t have much money. But they didn’t care. They had each other, and that was enough.
The marriage went against Raquel’s father’s wishes. He probably thought they were too young. Or maybe that James wasn’t good enough for his daughter. Raquel later admitted she married Jim “for my own personal satisfaction and pretty much in defiance of my father’s wishes.” Sometimes young people do things just to prove they can make their own choices.
They started their family life together pretty quickly. Their son Damon was born on November 6, 1959. That was just six months after the wedding. Then their daughter Latanne Rene Welch came along. Everyone called her Tahnee Welch. She was born on December 26, 1961. Suddenly, they were parents with two kids before Raquel even turned 22.
Life wasn’t easy for the young family. They lived in a small apartment in Pacific Beach. That’s a neighborhood in San Diego. Money was tight. James was working hard to support them. Raquel was taking care of the children. It was real life, not a fairy tale.
Professional Career and Success
James Westley Welch didn’t start out in some fancy office job. His first real career was as a tuna fisherman working the waters off the Pacific coast. This was hard, physical work that required strength and determination. The fishing industry back then was a big part of California’s economy. Especially in San Diego.
But James had bigger plans. He made a transition from the fishing boats to publicity work. As a publicist, he helped brands and companies expand their presence in the market. He understood brand promotion. He knew how to get businesses noticed. This was pretty different from catching fish. But James adapted well.
His business career really took off in the years after his divorce. By 1973, James had become president of a multi-dollar conglomerate. That’s a huge achievement for anyone. It’s especially impressive for someone who dropped out of high school. He proved that you don’t always need a diploma to succeed. Sometimes hard work, smart decisions, and determination matter more.
James kept most of his professional life private. Unlike Raquel, who became a Hollywood icon and sex symbol, James stayed away from the spotlight. He focused on his work and building his success quietly. That’s probably why not many people know much about his career accomplishments.
The End of Their Marriage
Things started falling apart for James and Raquel pretty quickly. They separated in 1962. That was when Raquel’s acting career was just beginning to take off. The timing wasn’t a coincidence. As Raquel got more opportunities in Hollywood, the pressure on their marriage grew.
The divorce was finalized in 1964 after five years of marriage. They were both still so young. James was 24. Raquel was 23. But they already had two children and a failed marriage behind them. The challenges of Raquel’s rising fame definitely played a part in their separation.
In a 1973 interview, James got honest about their relationship. He acknowledged he was “a bastard to Raquel a lot of the time.” That takes guts to admit. But he also said their union was “beautiful” and “idyllic at times.” He described them as “kids in love.” That’s exactly what they were. They got married too young without really understanding what marriage required.
The divorce didn’t mean they hated each other. It just meant they couldn’t make it work. Sometimes love isn’t enough. Especially when you’re dealing with fame, money problems, and growing up at the same time. They went their separate ways. But their story wasn’t quite over.
Legacy and Raquel’s Lasting Love
Here’s something really special. Even though they divorced, Raquel Welch kept the surname “Welch” for the rest of her life. She became one of the most famous actresses in the world. A Golden Globe winner with international fame. And she carried his name through all of it. She could’ve changed it back to Tejada. Or taken another husband’s name. But she didn’t.
In her 2010 memoir, Raquel wrote about James in a way that shows he never really left her heart. She called him “the man of my dreams” and “the unforgettable, always present love, against whom all others would be judged.” That’s pretty powerful stuff. She married three more times after James. Patrick Curtis, a Hollywood producer. AndrĂ© Weinfeld, a filmmaker. And Richard Palmer. But none of them measured up to her first love.
Raquel reflected on how marrying at such a young age affected their relationship. She admitted they were just too young to handle everything that came their way. But she also never regretted loving James. He was her first love. And those feelings never completely go away.
When Raquel passed away on February 15, 2023, after a short illness, the connection between her and James remained part of her story. She died as “Raquel Welch.” Carrying the name of the boy she fell for at La Jolla High School. That’s the kind of legacy most people only dream about.
Life After Raquel
After the divorce, James Westley Welch mostly stayed out of the public eye. While Raquel went on to become a famous actress, James focused on his business career. She starred in films like “Cocoon” and appeared in shows like “Falcon Crest.” But James didn’t chase Hollywood fame. He didn’t try to cash in on his connection to a celebrity.
His continued success in business proved he was capable of making it on his own. He didn’t need Raquel’s fame or fortune. James built his own career. He became successful through his work in publicity and corporate leadership. That must’ve given him a sense of pride and accomplishment.
James maintained his privacy away from the Hollywood spotlight. Unlike some ex-husbands of famous people who write tell-all books or give interviews, James kept quiet. He respected his past with Raquel. But he didn’t try to live in her shadow or profit from her fame.
Both of their children went on to have their own lives. Tahnee Welch became an actress herself. She appeared in movies like “Cocoon” in 1985 alongside director Ron Howard and actress Virna Lisi. Damon also pursued acting but stayed more behind the scenes. James got to watch his children grow up and make their own mark on the world.
Conclusion
James Westley Welch lived a life that proves you don’t have to be famous to be important. His story shows us that sometimes the biggest impact we make is on the people we love. He was Raquel Welch’s first husband, her high school sweetheart, and the one she never forgot.
From his early days as a tuna fisherman to becoming a successful business president, James made his own path. He experienced young love, teenage romance, marriage, parenthood, and divorce all before he turned 25. That’s a lot of life packed into just a few years.
What can we learn from James and Raquel’s story? Maybe it’s that timing matters. Maybe it’s that some loves stay with us forever, even when the relationship ends. Or maybe it’s simply that being someone’s “unforgettable love” is its own kind of success.
Want to learn more about famous high school romances that changed Hollywood history? Check out our other articles on celebrity relationships and the real stories behind Hollywood marriages. And if you enjoyed learning about James Westley Welch, share this article with someone who loves classic Hollywood stories!
