Roll Call Tribute

Jim Milton McClure 

October 12, 1930 - May 30, 2024 

Jimmy Milton McClure of Allen, Texas, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 4:55 a.m.

He was born October 12, 1930 in Cleburne, Texas, to Finis and Jewel McClure. Jim grew up in Cleburne, graduating from Cleburne High School in 1948 where he played football and baseball for the Yellowjackets. During the summers he played baseball for the King Brothers, a local summer league team.

After high school graduation, Jim played football for a semi-pro team in the Fort Worth area for a year and then attended Hillsboro Junior College from the fall of 1950 to 1951, playing football there his freshman year.

After Hillsboro, Jim joined the United States Air Force in January 1951, and was stationed in Germany for 2½ years during the Cold War. This included nine months at Erding Air Force Base and 15 months at Wiesbaden Air Force Base with the 7499th Composite Squadron, 15th Air Force. Jim was discharged as a Senior Airman A1C in August 1954.

After returning home, Jim enrolled in Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He graduated in May 1958 with a degree in Industrial Technology.

After college, Jim moved to Dallas, Texas, and got a job as a purchasing manager for Collins Radio which became Rockwell International in 1973. While working for Collins Radio, Jim met his future wife, Cathy Norfleet. She worked for Motorola, a company that Collins Radio did business with, talking on the phone with Jim many times regarding transactions before finally meeting in January 1960. After a whirlwind romance, they married in June 1960.

Jim and Cathy adopted two children Jeff (1965) and Tracie (1967) and lived in Richardson for a few years before moving to the country in McKinney, Texas. Eventually they settled in Allen in 1973. Jim was active in Allen’s Little League program and in 1979 his Pony League won the championship in baseball. Jim also served on Allen’s City Council from 1980 to 1986.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Finis and Jewel McClure of Cleburne, Texas, and his two brothers, J.C. McClure of Farmington, New Mexico and Billy E. McClure, of Mexia, Texas. Survivors include his wife Cathy of Allen, two children, Jeff (Mindi) McClure, of Dallas, and Tracie (Chadd) Hester, of McKinney, grandchildren, Catherine and Ginger, and sister Shirley Barden of Waco. Lastly, to all the Aggies out there, Gig ‘em!