James McAden Peebles, Sr. was born in 1921 in the Culleoka Community, Tennessee. He attended Columbia Military Academy graduating in 1938. He earned a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1942. While there he served as president of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and was selected to ODK. He excelled in athletics and served as co-captian of the Vanderbilt Commodore football team.

Following the Pearl Harbor attack, he was among the first to volunteer for service in the U.S. Army. He was commissioned a Captain and commanded a combat infantry company. He was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat. He was a member of the Army Europe All-Star Football Team, following the war.

On returning to the U.S. he joined the Redskins from 1946 through 1951, playing both offense and defense. Following his professional football retirement, he coached at CMA, among other secondary schools. Among the coaches he played for were Charlie Hughes, CMA; Ray Morrison and Paul "Bear" Bryant, Vanderbilt and Wallace Wade, Army West All-Stars.

Peebles was a member of the Presbyterian church, the Vanderbilt alumni association, Promise Keepers, Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Football League Players Association and the Columbia Military Academy Alumni Association.