Jack McGraw

Jack R. McGraw's life of bringing glory to God ended on October 24, 2004. Jack is finally home with the Lord after an 8-month battle with cancer. Jack was born November 5, 1932, five miles north of Blooming Grove, Texas to Ernest (Jug) and Clara McGraw. He was the second of four sons and two daughters. Being raised by tenant cotton farmers in Navarro County taught him life lessons he never forgot. Jack Graduated from Blooming Grove High School in 1950 and attended Navarro Jr. College in Corsicana on a football scholarship. In 1951 he met the love of his life, Wanda Gunter. They were married on January 22, 1953. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in June of 1954 and served in Virginia Beach, Virginia for 2 years in a Nike Guided Missile Battalion.After serving in the Army, he enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin in 1956 and graduated with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1959. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.His first job was with Dowell in Artesia, New Mexico. He later joined John Trigg Oil and lived for four years in camp housing at Maljamar, New Mexico. He went to work for Coastal States Gas Producing Company in Abilene in 1964 and was with them for 10 years. He transferred with Coastal States to Midland in 1966. From 1974 to 1981 he worked for several independent producers, H. L. Brown, Jr. and C.F. Lawrence and Associates.In April 1981 Jack with his friend and Christian "Brother" Dale A. Brown founded Brothers Production Company. The McGraw and Brown families are still closely associated in business after 23 years. With Jack's leadership and God's blessing the company grew enough that he was able to employ each of his four sons. Two are petroleum engineers, one a geologist, and the other an accountant. Jack and his sons were blessed by God to be able to work together for 21 years.Jack was an avid sportsman raising his sons in Midland. They enjoyed many years of slow pitch softball together, traveling the country for softball tournaments. He was such a presence in Midland softball that he was inducted into the Midland Softball Association Hall of Fame.All of that would be a rich and full life, but it doesn't even begin to describe what was really important to Jack. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His wife Wanda survives him. He vowed to love, honor and cherish her in 1953 and kept his word until death parted them. He was preceded in death by his two-year old son Lee and by his parents and an older brother Bobbie Harold. He is survived by 4 sons?Tim and his wife Terri, Scott and his wife Connie, Kyle and his wife DeAnn, and Travis and his wife Donna, all of Midland. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Robyn, Cliff, Alan, Michael, Kenneth, Molly, Daniel, Mark, Nathan, Laura and Kenzi McGraw all of Midland. Two sisters, Kathryn Peters and Jane Smith and two brothers Billy Wayne and Jerry Mack McGraw all of Blooming Grove, Texas as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their children.Of all that stirred Jack's heart nothing was more important to him than the Kingdom of God. He will be missed by thousands of believers and friends who were blessed by his leadership as an elder at the Golf Course Road Church of Christ. He became an elder in 1974 and served the body of Christ faithfully for 29 years. Jack's vision didn't stop with his church. He started serving on the Midland Christian School Board of Directors in 1985 and as chairman led the school through its $5,000,000 campus expansion. With his help the enrollment grew from 600 to 1150 students. In 1986 he was asked to serve on the Engineering Council at Oklahoma Christian University and served on the full board from 1989 to 2003. Because of his Christian leadership he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma Christian in 2004. In 1992 he was named Outstanding Ex-student by Blooming Grove High School and in 1996 he was named Alumnus of the Year by Navarro Jr. College. From a very early age Jack tried to please God and do His will. In his private life, public life, professional life and church life, Jack always put God first. Jack loved Jesus and because of that generously supported Christian education, helped put missionary children through college, recruited students for Oklahoma Christian University and supported mission efforts around the world.There is so much more that could be said to honor Jack, but we know that the greatest honor is reserved for when the Lord Jesus says, "Well done good and faithful servant."The memorial service has been scheduled Wednesday, October 27 at 3:00 pm at the Golf Course Road Church of Christ. The family will receive friends at Nalley, Pickle and Welch Funeral Home in Midland from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26. In leiu of flowers, the family suggests memorials should be directed to Midland Christian School 2001 Culver Drive, Midland, Texas 79705.,