John Asa Hammack

West Point, 1949

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Terry Powers on December 14, 2022:

John Hammack obituary, 1926-2016, Greenville, MS Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home & Memorial Park 7405 West Northwest Highway Dallas, TX John (Jack) A. Hammack, devoted husband and father, was called home by his Heavenly Father on February 13, 2016. He was 89 years old, and his family was at his bedside. Jack was born on October 14, 1926 in Greenville, Mississippi to Mariena and John A. Hammack. Jack spent his early years in Mississippi before being awarded --- what he referred to as the "opportunity of a lifetime" --- an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy, aka West Point. At "The Point," he excelled in many areas including athletics, and participated in the U.S. Olympic trials in the 400 meter run. Jack was also a member of the world record distance medley relay team. He graduated in the top twenty percent of his class in 1949, and was commissioned by the United States Air Force as one of a pioneering group of all-weather instrument jet aviation instructors at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia. During his commission, Jack was also assigned as Aide de Camp and pilot for the Superintendent of West Point. In 1950, Jack met Gloria Slaughter on a blind date. She was the love of his life, and in 1952 they married at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. After fulfilling his West Point commission in 1954, Jack chose civilian life where he built a successful career in the oil and gas industry. Initially, he worked in the oil fields of General American Oil Company. From there, he became one of the youngest Vice-Presidents of American Petrofina (Fina). Later, Jack went out on his own to establish Hammack Oil Company and fulfilled his dream of being his own boss. He held this position and steadfastly remained its sole decision maker through September of 2015. Jack's Christian faith dominated his life. He was a long-standing member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday School for many years, served as a Deacon, and later became an Elder. In particular, Jack truly lived the Word: "to whom much is given, much is required." This biblical principle created a servant leader in every sense and played out in his selfless service in public and charitable endeavors. A man of integrity and kind-heartedness, Jack was a humble and generous philanthropist who gave his resources to make his community a better place to live. His many contributions extended through the greater Dallas area. He was a Vice Chair of the Board of Presbyterian Hospital, a member of the Greater Dallas Crime Commission and the Highland Park Independent School District Educational Foundation. He served as President of both the Dallas Petroleum Club and the Dallas Country Club. In 1980 he was elected Mayor of the Town of Highland Park and served to 1984. Locally he supported Southern Methodist University, the Meadows Museum, the Dallas Arboretum and other charitable entities. A "self-made" man who was born into little but whose accomplishments were tremendous, Jack never forgot his roots. If someone was in trouble or needed help, Jack was the first one to offer a hand up. Whether it was a friend, acquaintance and in many cases, those he did not know personally, Jack, quietly and many times anonymously, provided for them. Touched by the burglary of the home of his faithful housekeeper of many years, Jack enlisted the help of Dallas' civic and political leaders and co-founded Safer Dallas Better Dallas, where he raised millions of dollars to support the Dallas Police department in order to help improve the safety of the city he so loved. Throughout all this, he never sought the limelight. Jack served as a Trustee and Director of The Meadows Foundation for 35 years. In recognition of his dedicated service and many contributions to the Foundation's work, the Meadows' Board recently established a perpetual fund in his name to provide grants to charitable causes that were important to him. For his country, Jack served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Texas Governor - William P. Clements, Jr., at the Pentagon in 1973. Afterwards and throughout his life, he contributed to West Point in innumerable ways. In 1990, he was elected a Trustee at Large of West Point's Association of Graduates (AOG). Later, he became the AOG's Vice Chairman in 1993, a position he held until becoming Chairman and CEO in 1997. During his five years as Chair of the AOG, he led West Point's first comprehensive fundraising effort, which resulted in contributions of over $220 million to the Point. When West Point's AOG awarded him the 2003 Distinguished Graduate Award, they described Jack as shaping "every aspect of his course in life with steadfast devotion to the principles expressed in the motto of the Military Academy: Duty, Honor, Country." Jack is predeceased by his parents and his daughter, Elizabeth Slaughter Hammack, his sister-in-law, Betty Lu Slaughter Williams and brother-in-law, Joel T. Williams, Jr. Nothing was more important to Jack than his family. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gloria Slaughter Hammack and two sons, John A. Hammack, Jr. and his wife Terri, and Albert D. Hammack and his wife, Melinda. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Marshall and Shelby Hammack, and Dr. Joshua Roberson and his wife Suzi, Jessica Carlson and Julia Price, and numerous relatives from Mississippi. The family would like to thank Dorothy VanSickle, Jaynie Denmon, Dan Gerlach, John Gardere and John Stewart for their many years of loyal service to Jack and his business pursuits. The family also thanks the Rev. Charles Ragsdale, Ernest Abulala, Bizunesh Wondimu, Dora Navarro, Esmeralda Velasquez, Fikerte Beshah, and Yezena Ayele for their compassionate care of Jack during his later years. Their loving care they provided Jack cannot be overstated, and the Hammack family is eternally grateful to all of them. A memorial service celebrating Jack's life will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 22, 2016 in the main Sanctuary at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. In June, Jack will receive his FINAL SALUTE from the U.S. Military Academy when he will be buried in the West Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations in Jack's name be made to the West Point Association of Graduates, Building 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996; Safer Dallas Better Dallas, 8150 North Central Expressway, Suite 1900, Dallas, TX 75206; the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218; the Meadows Museum, 5900 Bishop Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205 or the charity of your choice. Published by Dallas Morning News from Feb. 19 to Feb. 21, 2016.

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