Drayton McLane, Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Drayton McLane, Jr. is one of the nation's most successful entrepreneurs. He is chairman of McLane Group and chairman and CEO of the Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. In 2006 he was ranked #322 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.[1]
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[edit] Personal history
He was born 22 July 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 l894 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 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 three million dollar a year operation into a 19 billion dollar enterprise.[2]
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 percent. 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).[3]
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 found in 1992. As of early 2007 he owns 18 million shares of Wal-Mart stock worth $800 million[1].
[edit] Owner of Houston Astros
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Astros Baseball Club, his philosophy remains consistent—bring a World Series championship to Houston, and make a positive difference in the community. Since he purchased the team in 1993, the Astros rank fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage (.543) over 13 seasons from 1993-2005.[4]
The Astros 2005 season was the most successful season on the field for the Houston franchise in its history. The Astros came closer than they ever have to becoming World Champions. The team won its first National League Championship and advanced to the World Series. On October 25, 2005, Minute Maid Park in Houston played host to the first World Series game played in the state of Texas.
[edit] McLane Group
In addition to his leadership of the Astros, he devotes his time to McLane Group,[5] the family holding company for these corporations:
- Classic Foods
- Hometown Favorites
- Houston Astros
- Leading Edge Brands
- Lonestar Plastics
- M-C McLane International
- McLane Advanced Technologies, LLC.
- McLane Group
- McLane Polska
- McLane Portugal
[edit] Volunteer activities
McLane and his wife, Elizabeth, have two adult sons, Drayton III and Denton. They are active members of First Baptist Church of Temple, where Drayton teaches Sunday School and currently serves as an active deacon.
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; Vice 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. In the religious community of Temple, Texas, he has served as the chairman of the Deacon Board of First Baptist Church.[3]
He is a major benefactor of both Baylor University where the McLane Student Life Center and the acclaimed McLane carillons 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 (NASA Administrator), 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.
[edit] Honors and awards
- 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 (2nd time): 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
- 1985 Silver Buffalo Award: Boy Scouts of America
