April 4, 1936 — September 20, 2024
James “Jim” Knox McLaren passed away September 20, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. However, he will continue to live in the hearts of the many who loved him.
Although Jim’s parents lived in Austin, he was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 4, 1936, because his mother felt that Dallas had the best doctors. He grew up in the Travis Heights area of Austin playing ball at Stacy Park with kids who became lifelong friends. His beloved dog Gumby was always nearby. He graduated from Travis High School in 1954 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1959. He was a Life Member of the Texas Exes.
While at UT, he married his high school sweetheart, Charlotte Washington, on September 7, 1957. He also trained as a sonar technician in the Naval Reserves. Upon graduation, Jim and Charlotte moved to Dallas where they started their family, and he began his professional career. Jim was well known in the precast and prestressed concrete industry and held several local and state association positions. He spent most of his career in Dallas before managing precast operations in El Paso and purchasing a fabrication plant in Victoria. At one point, Jim’s company was the largest supplier of prestressed concrete beams and related products to the Texas Highway Department.
After retirement in his early 50s, Jim returned to Austin and joined lifelong friends for standing Friday night dinners at Matt’s El Rancho, earning Jim a plaque on “his” table. After his marriage ended, Jim became active with the Texas Exes, volunteered at the Alumni Center, and visited more countries with the Flying Longhorns than this South Austin kid ever thought he’d see. Best of all, he met his forever friend, Nancy Kocurek, at the Alumni Center.
There are a few things Jim would want you to know. He never missed a Texas/OU game until the early 70s, when business got in the way. For almost 50 years and until he was physically unable, he saw every Longhorn home game from his 50-yard-line seats at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. He could tell you what happened during a UT game from any year, right down to the quarter, play, and players. Between he and his friend, Garland Head, they had the entire 1960s and 70s covered. Coach Royal was referred to as Saint Darrell in his home. He threw a hell of a Texas/OU Party. One of his greatest moments was at a UT basketball game where he saw Darrell Royal sitting with Willie Nelson.
In other words, the world’s biggest Longhorn fan is now sitting alongside Saint Darrell.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Lorene Kirkpatrick McLaren and Hugh Herndon McLaren; sister, Billie McLaren Fickel; and former wife and mother of his children, Charlotte Washington McLaren. He leaves behind his son, Kevin McLaren and wife, Linda, of Arlington, TX; daughter Molly McLaren Davidson and husband, Joby, of Dallas, TX; grandchildren Travis (Anna) McLaren of Fayetteville, AR; Lindsay (Hunter) Boyle of Denver, CO; and Emily McLaren of Austin, TX; great-grandson George McLaren of Fayetteville, AR; nephews Mike, Gavin, and Kirk Smith, and Derek Nalls; and lifelong friends who made his life so much richer. Hook ‘em!
A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 11th, at 11am, at City Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to Texas Exes Scholarship Fund at texasexes.org/give or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home.
The online register can be signed at www.murrayorwosky.com
