Roll Call Tribute

John Olin "Jack" Teague, Lt Col USAF (Ret) 

January 25, 1937 - November 11, 2024 

Lt Col John Olin (Jack) Teague passed away at the age of 87 on Veterans Day, November 11, 2024, at St. Joseph Regional Hospital in Bryan, Texas. He was born in Waco, Texas, on January 25, 1937, to Olin E. Teague and Freddie Dunman Teague. Jack, the middle child, between his brother, Jim, and his sister, Jill, was raised in both Texas and Bethesda, Maryland.

Following his father, who was of the Class of '32, Jack also attended Texas A&M. Speaking of his fish year in the Corps of Cadets, he later likened it to his time in combat in SE Asia: "I wouldn't want to live it again, but I wouldn't take anything for the great experience of doing it once."

Jack and Linda Ann Weatherby, of Hillsboro, Texas, were married for 64 years. They wed in August of 1960 after Jack’s father orchestrated their meeting and cultivated the budding relationship. After being commissioned into the Air Force a month after marriage, they lived a life of sacrifice and service. They shared the responsibilities of raising their two children, John Olin Teague, Jr. and Terri Lyn Teague Toler, and, throughout the decades, numerous dogs. While the children were growing up, Butch was the family dog. Agatha, Waldo, Samson, and Bardo came later. Cotton and Suzy survived Jack and will continue to be loved and cared for by Linda.

As a young father, Jack found beauty in the outdoors and became an avid camper and fisherman. While stationed near San Antonio, the family spent many weekends camping along the Sabinal River near Utopia, Texas. Jack entertained his family with ghost stories around the fire by night and a competitive game of Yahtzee or Monopoly before bed. The children craved his “silver dollar pancakes” for breakfast, hashbrowns for dinner, and perfectly roasted marshmallows at night. They also sang—particularly the Aggie War Hymn and The Spirit of Aggieland. The children knew the words to the songs and many Aggie yells long before they, too, attended Texas A&M.

While at A&M, Teague faced disappointment when he learned he was medically disqualified for pilot training in the USAF; nevertheless, after graduation and marriage, Jack was commissioned into the Air Force and became an air commando. As a young captain assigned to the 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, his career took a pivotal turn in 1965 when he volunteered for a highly classified mission in Southeast Asia. Operating covertly in northern Laos, Teague worked closely with the legendary Hmong General Vang Pao. Operating under strict anonymity, without rank insignia or identification, Teague endured months of combat, outdated communications equipment, grueling jungle conditions—even a bout of dengue fever—to direct airstrikes from the jets above him.

Jack’s time in Laos was marked by ingenuity, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to mission. That perseverance led the legendary Air Commando Wing Commander Heinie Aderholt, to argue for Teague's medical clearance and a path to becoming a fighter pilot. Subsequently, following his tour in Laos, Teague transitioned to pilot training, and by 1968, he was back in SE Asia, flying F-100 Super Sabres in Vietnam, where he gained a reputation as an exceptional aviator. Jack's contributions during one of the most challenging and secretive periods of US presence in SE Asia, coupled with his later achievements as a fighter pilot in Vietnam, created a remarkable legacy.

Jack retired to College Station, in 1980, to enjoy Texas A&M again—this time through his children. Son, John, Class of '83, also embraced the Corps of Cadets. As a squadron commander and member of the Ross Volunteers, John learned leadership skills that benefitted him throughout a career in law enforcement.

Jack’s daughter, Terri, served as a Fish Camp counselor, a peer advisor, a member of the Muster Committee, and worked as a campus tour guide while earning her BS degree at Texas A&M. She currently works at the Texas A&M College of Medicine for which Jack’s father, then-Congressman Olin E. Teague, cowrote the legislation to establish.

Maroon definitely flowed deep in Teague’s veins. He was proud of his Aggie heritage, his Aggie ring, and his Aggie offspring!

Not one to sit idle, Jack taught at Blinn College and at the prison system in Bryan for many years before retiring from that as well. During retirement, he enjoyed flying his private plane to small airports across Texas just to enjoy a cup of coffee. Jack’s spiritual life was very important to him and knowing more about our Lord and Savior became a longing which, in recent years, he fed through the sermons and Bible study at Christ Church. He encouraged others to read the Bible to know more about Christ and the grace and salvation He offers freely to all who believe and call on Him as their personal Savior and Lord.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Olin and Freddie Teague, and his brother, James Martin (Jim) Teague. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his two children and their spouses, John and Brenda Teague and Terri and Steve Toler; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren (and more on the way!). He also leaves behind his beloved sister, Jill, and several nieces and nephews.

Jack Teague built a legacy that embodies Aggie respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and selfless service. Values that live on in the hearts and lives of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Befitting his military service, including the Bronze Star and the Silver Star, Jack's final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Please join us for a memorial service on December 7th at 2 PM, at Christ Church, located at 4201 State Highway 6, College Station, Texas, 77845.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association (corpsofcadets.org) or to the Aggieland Humane Society (aggielandhumane.org) or Texas Best Choices Animal Rescue (tbcanimalrescue.com).