James “Buster” Corley, known for being a co-founder of Dave & Buster’s, died this week in Texas at the age of 72.
According to reports, including one from regional outlet WFAA, police in Dallas initially responded to Corley’s home near the White Rock Lake area on Monday and found a man later identified as Corley with what they described as an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Corley’s daughter, Kate Corley, later confirmed to the outlet that the individual in question was her father. Furthermore, the family revealed that he had suffered a stroke four months earlier, resulting in what they said was “severe damage to the communication and personality part of his brain.”
In a separate statement, also shared with WFAA, a Dave & Buster’s spokesperson remembered Corley’s “pioneering spirit” and its impact on the popular restaurant-and-arcade chain’s decades of success.
“Buster’s passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence, and the deep care he had for his team members were unparalleled,” the company rep 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.”
When reached for comment by Complex on Wednesday, a rep for the Dallas Police Department said their investigation remained “ongoing” at this time. The rep also noted departmental policy states that they do no provide or confirm the identity of victims in apparent suicide cases.
“The preliminary investigation determined when officers arrived they found a man with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the rep told Complex in an email. “The man was taken to a local hospital where he died.”
When reached by Complex for additional comment, a rep for Dave & Buster’s shared the same statement excerpted above. Read it in full below.
“James W. ‘Buster’ Corley was an innovative and creative force who co-founded Dave & Buster’s. 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. Buster’s passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence, and the deep care he had for his team members were unparalleled. 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.”
Dave & Buster’s was founded by Dave O. Corriveau (who died in 2015) and James “Buster” Corley, who both brought their own respective enterprises together to form the restaurant-and-arcade combo it’s known for today. The first Dave & Buster’s location opened in Texas in 1982. Fast forward to 2023, and the company now boasts more than 140 different locations and is as popular as it’s ever been due to its dedication to conjuring a uniquely fun-focused environment for visitors.
RIP.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available.
