Thanks Jack for remembering our good times together.  John Y.

I worked for Braniff International in Reservations just shy of 10 years.   I didn't know Jack at Braniff, however, he hired me to come work at EDS in their in-house Travel Department.  I worked for Jack for 16 years before moving on to another position outside the travel industry.   During this time I came to know him to be quite knowledgeable, a great teacher and a compelling leader.  He taught me to be a good and fair leader,  to negotiate vendor contracts and maintain honest and credible relationships with these vendors as well as all my co-workers.  Jack was also very warm, kind and funny. So funny!!  I will always remember the good times our team(s) had working with him and will be forever grateful for all that I learned.  I have had two jobs in my life where I consider the friends I made to also be family - Braniff and EDS.   Jack, I honor your memory.

Jack 
You are missed Sir. You gave me my first job at out of college, at EDS, after two rounds of interviews. You’re words to me were “someone’s got to give you a shot!” Thank you for being the man that did. EDS travel team was great, with many good friends. Thank you for always being kind and generous and doing so with great strength even in difficult times. All the best.

Jack loved his extended family, and we all loved getting together with the Cousins.  Pictured L to R:  Betty, LaVerne, Jack, Avalee, John Everette, and Davis Ray - 2015 Family Reunion.

He will be sorely missed when we meet again.

Jack, I love you and will always remember you as a kind , considerate and caring human being.  You did so much with your time on Earth. 
I miss you.

Jack was a leader, a mentor and a great friend to many people. He moved the concept of an in-house travel department at EDS to reality in a few weeks. Over the years, he led an exceptional team of people to set the industry standard for corporate travel departments, across the country and around the world. Despite the complexities, the road blocks, the industry ups and downs, Jack was always mission focused. He was honored by his peers by being inducted into the Braniff Airways Foundation Hall of Fame, and he served the industry as president of several professional travel organizations. As corporate recruiting manager at EDS, I was tasked with finding the personnel for this new venture. After a few days of networking and interviewing I received a call from a retiring Braniff employee. He had heard that EDS had an opening and he assumed that we were hiring a corporate pilot, he was a Captain. He quickly realized that we had a very different staffing need, but he had a recommendation. He stated that the best person for this role—Jack Witherspoon. With Mr. McKillop’s sterling endorsement he was hired. Over the next few weeks, I worked with Jack to complete the initial staffing of six outstanding people from Braniff. 

Jack will certainly be missed by his former co-workers and friends at Braniff Airways. He was a very dedicated Braniff employee and was inducted into the Braniff Hall of Fame several years ago. Some may not know that Jack was also a very accomplished artist. He was very much a gentleman. My deepest sympathy goes out to Jack’s family and many friends. 

Jack was a frequent visitor to MIA and a good friend to many at the FTO.  He joined our fam trip group to Spain and Morocco.  

To Jack's Family and the rest of the Braniff family,

While I was only with Braniff for a short will, 1978 - 1981, the people I worked with, in the cockpit and on the ground were the best ever.

My thanks go out to Jack for making Braniff a great company and a wonderful company to work for.

Best always to everyone at Braniff.........
Mike Redman, SO, DC-8's and 727's.

he was so special to all who knew or worked with him

Thoughts & prayers.  I worked for Braniffairlines and remember the pleasant times with Jack Witherspoon.


OBITUARY

Jack Leon Witherspoon

15 March, 1942 – 27 August, 2022

Moore Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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