James Bunch was born July 4, 1957, in the rural community of Cotton Plant, Arkansas. He and his siblings were raised on a small farm where they grew traditional row and vegetable crops. He attended Cotton Plant High School and as a freshman he discovered that he had the gift of speed. It was then he joined the track team. This decision would be a game changer where he excelled in both the 440-yard dash and mile relay. This outstanding performance would earn him a four-year athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

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He stepped on the Yard at UAPB in the Fall of 1975. Based on his farming background selecting a major in agriculture came easy. Although he loved track and field, he recognized the importance of obtaining a college degree. He worked just as hard off the field in his studies as well as on the field. He believed his work ethics on the farm contributed to his overall success in track and field. During the Spring of 1979 he would break the Arkansas State record in the 440-yard dash with a time of 45.6. This record would stand for 11 years and has yet to be broken at UAPB. He was inducted into the UAPB Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Track and field magazine ranked him as the third fastest quarter-miler in the country.