Personal history

He was born on July 22, 1936 in Cameron, Texas. His father, Drayton McLane, Sr., owned a wholesale grocery distribution center. At age nine, the young McLane went to work for his father's business that had been established by his grandfather, Robert McLane, in 1894. His grandfather came from Abbeville, S.C., to Cameron, Texas, in the late 1800s and worked as a farm laborer until about 1885, when he was able to buy and build a small retail grocery and in 1894 went into the wholesale grocery business in a small way. McLane, Jr., spent most Saturdays and summers during his teen years sweeping floors and learning various aspects of the wholesale grocery business. He graduated from C.H. Yoe High School in Cameron in 1954.

He earned his undergraduate degree at Baylor University in 1958 and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in marketing at Michigan State University in 1959. After graduation, McLane, Jr., returned home and went to work for his father. For the first 18 months, he worked the second (night) shift loading trucks. Three years later he moved into management as vice president of purchasing. He then served 14 years as general manager of operations. He became president and CEO of McLane Company in 1978 and chairman in 1992.

During his years with the company, Drayton McLane, Jr., assisted his father in building an effective grocery distribution network that served convenience stores, supermarkets, and the fast-food industry nationwide. He used computer-based technology to enhance the distribution system. He was largely responsible for expanding the family business from a $3 million-a-year operation into a $19 billion enterprise.

As President and CEO of McLane Company from 1965 to 1994, he added 16 distribution facilities across the US. During that time the company experienced an average yearly sales growth of 30%. During those years, Drayton Jr. served as President of the Texas Wholesale Grocers Association (1970-1971) and Chairman of the National American Wholesale Grocers Association (1986-1988).

He sold the family business to tennis partner Sam Walton for cash and Wal-Mart shares in 1990. He invested much of the profits in pro baseball's Houston Astros. He continued as chairman of McLane Co. and was named vice chairman of Wal-Mart Corporation. In 1993, he resigned both of these positions in order to devote his full-time as Chairman of McLane Group, which is a holding company founded in 1992. He currently serves as the CEO of McLane Advanced Technologies.

Owner of Houston Astros

From the time he purchased the team in 1993 to 2005, the Astros ranked fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage (.543), but never won a World Series. The Astros, originally the Colt 45's, were founded in 1962 and have yet to win their first

The Astros 2005 season was the most successful season on the field for the Houston franchise. Winning the National League Pennant to advance to the World Series, Houston hosted the first World Series game ever played in the State of Texas. However, the Astros, who had rallied from a losing record earlier in the season, were swept by the Chicago White Sox in four games, granting the White Sox its first championship in 88 years. The Astros sport the fourth longest World Series drought in MLB, with no World Series in 53 years.

McLane announced in November 21, 2010, that the Astros franchise was for sale. A recent regional television deal puts the Astros on a similar footing as other National League teams, and should help with the income side of this transaction. McLane said the sale was for "family" reasons, and he was joined in the announcement by his two adult sons, Drayton III and Denton. It was sold on Nov 17th, 2011 for $610 million. Since the sale, Drayton has been sued by the purchaser, Jim Crane, for breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation or omission, and civil conspiracy.

McLane Group

McLane devotes his time to McLane Group, the family holding company for these corporations:

• Sports in Action
• Dave Campbell's Texas Football
• McLane Intelligent Solutions
• McLane Global
• Classic Foods
• McLane Ranch, L.P.
• RDM Commerce, Inc.

Former McLane Group Entities

• McLane Polska
• McLane Portugal
• McLane Cattle, LLC
• Leading Edge Flavors
• McLane International
• McLane Advanced Technologies

Volunteer activities

McLane and his wife, Elizabeth, have two adult sons, Drayton III and Denton. They are active members of First Baptist Church of Belton, where Drayton teaches Sunday School and currently serves as an active deacon.

Michigan State University Activities and Philanthropy: By the spring of 2009, the McLane family will have brought “new life” to its baseball facility through a $4 million commitment to enhance one of the most pristine environments in all of intercollegiate athletics. On September 12, 2008, the MSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the naming of Drayton McLane Baseball Stadium at John H. Kobs Field.

McLane puts aside a large amount of time to serve on civic and charitable committees. Drayton Jr. currently serves as: VP of Executive Board—Boy Scouts of America; Chairman of Board of Trustees—Scott and White Memorial Hospital; Member of National Board of Governors—Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research; director—Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University; Member of the Greater Houston Partnership; Member of United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast.

His past civic duties include: Chairman—United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast’s Pacesetter Campaign; Member—Children’s Miracle Network National Board of Governors; Chairman of the Board—Children’s Miracle Network; Member—Texas State Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; Chairman of Board of Trustees—Baylor University; Chairman of Board of Regents—Baylor University; Chairman of Temple (Texas) Chamber of Commerce; Trustee—South Texas College of Law. He also serves as a Trustee for the Baylor College of Medicine. In the religious community of Temple, Texas, he has served as the chairman of the Deacon Board of First Baptist Church.

He is a major benefactor of both Baylor University, where the McLane Student Life Center, the acclaimed McLane carillons, and McLane Stadium are named in his honor, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in Belton, Texas, where McLane Hall honors him. He sponsors the McLane Lectures at UMHB, bringing to campus such notables as former President George H.W. Bush, Honorable Sean O'Keefe (Former NASA Administrator and Current Chancellor of Louisiana State University), and Barbara Bush, former first lady of the US.

In 2005, Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple honored Drayton and his wife by creating the Elizabeth and Drayton McLane, Jr., Chair in Health and Wellness, a new endowed chair that is a joint appointment between the hospital and the Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine.

McLane Stadium

Baylor University announced in December 2013 that it would name its new football stadium, McLane Stadium, after "one of the most distinguished and generous alumni families in Baylor University history." The name honors Drayton McLane Jr. and his family's continuing generosity to the University and lengthy history of service to Baylor.

"Drayton McLane has done so much for Baylor University, and he has consistently demonstrated a deep love for his alma mater not only through his significant giving but also through his longtime service to the University as a Regent and chairman of the board," said Richard S Willis, BBA '81, MBA '82, chair of the Baylor Board of Regents. "With his continued generosity to the University, the board felt that naming our new football stadium McLane Stadium would appropriately honor Drayton McLane and his family for their remarkable generosity and visionary leadership, both of which have helped give rise to this extraordinary period in the history of our University. Drayton is a humble servant and did not seek such recognition, but he has reluctantly conceded to having his name on the stadium, and we are delighted."

In March 2012, Baylor announced a leadership gift for Baylor's new $260 million on-campus football stadium from Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr., their son Drayton III, a 1996 Baylor graduate, his wife Amy and their sons Drayton IV, Brooks and Walker, and son Denton, a 1999 Baylor graduate, his wife Amy and sons Jeff and Jake. The 45,000-seat stadium is now under construction on a 93-acre at the intersection of Interstate 35 and the Brazos River. The McLane's gift propelled the University to successful - and unprecedented - fundraising for the stadium, which will open in fall 2014.

The stadium also could include a $20 million alumni events center that would provide a home for Baylor alumni on game day and at other times. Last July, Baylor's Board of Regents approved expenditures for site preparation, a feasibility study and architectural renderings associated with the addition of an alumni events center at the stadium. The board also authorized fundraising to support construction of the center.

Honors and awards

• 2014 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2014 Baylor University Meritorious Achievement Awards // Baylor Founders Medal
• 2012-13 Baylor University Meritorious Achievement Awards // Baylor Founders Medal
• 2011 Texas Transportation Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2011 Austin College, Honorary Doctorate Degree
• 2010 Baylor University Regent Emeritus
• 2008 Dallas Baptist University, Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award
• 2008 University of St. Thomas, Ethical Leadership Award
• 2008 Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service
• 2006 Field Service Award for Supply Chain Management: International Society of Logistics (SOLE)
• 2004 Distinguished Citizen Award: Boy Scouts of America
• 2004 Silver Buffalo Award: Boy Scouts of America
• 2002 Distinguished Leadership Award: Leadership Houston
• 2000 Father of the Year Award: Houston Community Partners
• 1998 Herbert Hoover Food Industry Award:Food Distributors International
• 1997 Honorary Doctorate: Michigan State University
• 1997 Golden Plate Award: American Academy of Achievement
• 1995 Texas Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
• 1993 Master Entrepreneur of the Year: Texas A & M University
• 1992 Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation inductee
• 1991 W.R. White Meritorious Service Award
• 1990 American Achiever Award: National American Wholesale Grocers Association
• 1990 Distinguished Alumni Award: Baylor University
• 1990 Food Distributor Man of the Year: Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
• 1989 Heart of Texas Council
• 1989 Distinguished Citizen Award: Boy Scouts of America
• 1988 Silver Antelope Award: Boy Scouts of America:
• 1987 Entrepreneur of the Year: Arthur Young/VENTURE Magazine
• 1985 Management Excellence and Achievement Award: the University of Georgia School of Business

[ Source: Wikipedia ]