Jack Lyndon McClaran

Colonel Jack Lyndon McClaran, U.S. Army (Retired), of Lakeway passed away peacefully on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026 at the age of 101 years. A career Army Infantry Officer, Jack served during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. Jack’s life was one of service to his country, his community and his church.

A native Texan, Jack was born in Hamlin, Texas on October 23, 1924, the third child of four born to Jerry Graves McClaran and Loreta Lawrence McClaran. He attended Winters High School in Winters, Texas, where he was class president for his last three years. After graduating from high school in 1941, Jack moved to San Antonio where he was employed as a civilian aircraft technician for the U.S. Army Air Corps at Kelly Air Force Base. In that capacity, Jack was sent to England in 1942 to help set up a new air base. Upon his return from England in 1944, Jack was drafted into the Army as an infantryman and, after boot camp at Camp Wolters, Texas, he was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After completing OCS, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and retained as an instructor at the Infantry School at Ft. Benning until October 1945, when he received orders to join the Army of Occupation in Germany.

Highlights of Jack’s distinguished military career include: Platoon Leader and Company Commander, 24th Infantry Regiment (the last predominantly segregated unit in the U.S. Army), Korea (1950-1951); Company Commander, Ft. Riley, Kansas (1951-1952); Marine Corps School, Quantico, Virginia (1955); Bn S-3 and Company Commander, Hawaii, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Japan, Midway Island, and other Pacific islands (1956-1959); Command and General Staff School, Kansas (1959); graduation from the University of Nebraska (1963); Plans Officer and Secretary of General Staff, HQ Supply and Maintenance Command, Washington, D.C. (1964-1965); Battalion Commander, Ft. Hood, Texas (1965); Head of Berlin Operations EUCOM (1967); seminar at Oxford University with representatives of 48 countries (1967); Chief of Plans DCSOP, CONARC, Ft. Monroe, Virginia (1971); Head of J4 and Chairman of Commerce Subcommittee, Korea (1972).

Col. McClaran’s military awards and decorations include: Combat Infantry Badge, 2nd Bronze Star with “V” device and Oak Leaf Cluster; Korean War Campaign Medal with 5 Battle Stars; Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal; Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters; Inducted into the Infantry Officer Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, Georgia.

After 31 years and 8 months of service to his country, Col. McClaran retired at Ft. Hood, Texas in 1975. After retirement, Jack and his wife Corinne moved to Lakeway, Texas. Jack was in the real estate business in the Lakeway area for ten years. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing at his local golf courses in Lakeway as well as golf courses around the country as he and Corinne traveled the U.S. in their RV. Jack continued to play golf several times a week well into his 90’s. He was proud to have made a hole-in-one at Yaupon in 1992.

Jack served the Lakeway community in many ways, including: Head of the Lakeway Garden Club; Director of the Volunteer Fire Department; organized the flag brigade for the 4th of July parade (1976-1985) and directed entire ceremony (1986-1987); Charter Member and Vice President of the Lake Travis Education Foundation; Member of the City of Lakeway Building Committee for two years; Chairman of the Zoning and Planning Commission for ten years; Meritorious Service Award, Lakeway Service Corp. (1998); Lakeway Volunteer of the Year (2002).

Jack’s service to the Lakeway Church included: Building Committee (1989-1992); Board of Trustees (1992-1995); Member of the Worship Committee for three years; Head Usher for five years; Chief Communion Steward for twelve years.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Jerry and Loreta McClaran, his sisters, Ora Jeraldine McClaran Luttrell (Oscar) and Edith Aileen McClaran McMillan (Wilburn), his brother John Lawrence McClaran (Dorothy), and his daughter Sharon A. McClaran Davidson. He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Corinne F. McClaran, his son Stephen R. McClaran, his grandson Justin R. McClaran (Amie), his great grandchildren Fiona and Oliver, as well as many nieces and nephews.

There will be a memorial service at Lakeway Church on Saturday, July 11th at 11:00 a.m. A committal service will take place on August 18, 2026 at 10:30 am at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.