Jack Lee Whitacre

Jack L. Whitacre, age 86 of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on February 24, 2025 surrounded by his family. His parents were Georgia and K.O. Whitacre of Lancaster, Missouri, where he graduated as Valedictorian of his high school class. He then earned a BA in 1961 at the University of Missouri Columbia where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, serving as Commander in 1959.

Upon graduation from MU, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army and served as a First Lieutenant until 1963 as a Military Intelligence Officer: Head, Order of Battle Section, First Military Intelligence Detachment. He supported the First Infantry Brigade, Fort Riley, Kansas and XVIII Corps during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

Following his military service, Jack returned to the University of Missouri School of Law where he received his JD and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif.

Jack joined Spencer, Fane, Britt & Browne where he practiced law from 1965 until 2005. He specialized in Labor Relations Law, Employment Law and Litigation, and Civil Rights. He served on the firm’s Management Committee (1979-1986) and was Chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Committee (1982-1993 & 1996-2001).

Jack was past chairman of the Labor Law committees of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and The Missouri Bar. He also was a member of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section, Labor Relation Law Section (Committee of the AGC Labor Lawyer’s Council) and Employment Law Committee of the National Retail Federation. He served on ABA regional liaison committees with the OFCCP and EEOC. He published several articles on labor and employment law and was editor-revisor for Chapter 24, Employment Discrimination Law, Third Edition. Jack was a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. He served as an Adjunct Professor, Labor Law & Arbitration Law, UMKC School of Law, 2005.

Jack is survived by Marie, his wife of 62 years. Together they raised sons Morgan (Caitlin) and Ross (Jennifer). He was a beloved Grandfather of Holland, Sheridan, Anne, Jack and Jane. Also surviving is his brother Bill (Diann) of Washington, Missouri.

He served in many leadership roles with Boy Scout Troop 16, including Scout Master, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Tribe of Mic O Say. Other interests included fly fishing, training bird dogs and hunting, and traveling during retirement. He was a member of the MU Jefferson Club, AND AN AVID SUPPORTER OF THE MIZZOU TIGERS!

A private memorial service and internment in the Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral’s Memorial Garden is planned. The family suggests memorial contribution to NOURISH-KC.