The co-founder of Dave & Buster’s — James W. “Buster” Corley — passed away in his Dallas home earlier this week.
“The preliminary investigation determined that when officers arrived, they found a man with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” said Kristin Lowman, a Dallas Police Department (DPD) spokesperson. “The man was taken to a local hospital where he died,” she told USA Today.
Corley, 72, had suffered from a stroke four months prior that left him with severe neurological damage, according to his daughter Kate Corley. This ultimately impaired the communication and personality part of his brain, she said.
The family has asked for respect and privacy during this challenging time.
Corley made a significant imprint on the local community when he and cofounder David Corriveau opened their first Dave & Buster’s in Dallas in 1982.
Since its grand opening over 40 years ago, the company has expanded nationally and now has more than 150 locations.
The legacy Corley leaves behind for the Dallas community will be remembered for a long time to come.
“James W. ‘Buster’ Corley was an innovative and creative force. His pioneering spirit and steadfast belief that ‘everybody is somebody’ set the foundation for bringing food and games to millions of Dave & Buster’s guests over the past 40 years,” said Dave & Buster’s spokesperson Pete Thornfield.
“Buster’s passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence, and the deep care he had for his team members were unparalleled,” he said. “Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time, and while we will miss his wise counsel and his easy laugh, the legacy he and Dave built endures.”
If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis, call 988, the new, three-digit shortcut that will direct callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now called the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
