Drayton McLane Jr.

Drayton McLane Jr. serves as chairman of the McLane Group and is the CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. A native Texan, this acclaimed businessman, leader, and generous philanthropist, ensures the focus of all his endeavors is based upon strong Christian values and moral ethics. Mr. McLane received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Michigan State University. The grandson of a successful entrepreneur, Drayton experienced firsthand the hard work and dedication it takes to successfully thrive in industry. He began developing his tireless work ethic at age nine by working for his father at the family’s wholesale grocery business, the McLane Company. By earning the respect and admiration of his co-workers, he became president and CEO of the company in 1964 and held these positions for thirty years. During his tenure, he propelled the McLane Company into a nineteen billion dollar company, achieving an average growth rate of thirty percent per year. Following the McLane Company’s merger with Wal*Mart, Inc. in 1990, he became vice-chairman of Wal-Mart while maintaining his positions at the McLane Company. After playing key roles in each of these companies’ growth and productivity he resigned in order to devote more time to the McLane Group, a parent company consisting of family owned companies operating throughout the world, and the Houston Astros where he has served as Chairman and CEO. Drayton McLane is in his sixteenth season with the Astros. Since purchasing the team in 1993 the Astros rank second in the National League and fifth in the Majors in winning percentage. Their philosophy remains consistent – bring home a World Series championship to Houston and make a positive difference in the community. Current Activities: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Scott & White Memorial Hospital Executive Committee Member, Major League Baseball Vice President of Executive Board, Boy Scouts of America National Board Member, National Board of Governors, Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research Board Director, The Bush School of Government & Public Service - Texas A&M University Board Director, Greater Houston Partnership Board Director, United Way of the Gulf Coast of Texas Board of Trustees, Baylor College of Medicine Board of Visitors, The University Cancer Foundation, M.D. Anderson Past Activities: Chairman of the Board, Temple Chamber of Commerce, 1978 President, Baylor University Development Council, 1981 Chairman, United Way Campaign, Temple, Texas, 1983–1984 Member Texas State Board, Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 1985–1989 Chairman, United Way, Temple, Texas, 1987 Member, Baylor Board of Regents, 1989–2006 Honorary Campaign Chairman, United Way, Temple, Texas, 1991 Vice-Chairman & Director, Wal*Mart Stores, Inc, 1990–1994 Chairman of the Board, Children’s Miracle Network, 1993–1994 Chairman, Pacesetter Campaign – United Way, Gulf Coast-Houston, 1994–1997 Chairman of the Board of Regents, Baylor University, 2002–2004 Honors: Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award Recipient, 1985 Management Excellence & Achievement Award-University of Georgia, School of Business, 1985 Arthur Young/VENTURE Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, 1987 Boy Scouts of America Silver Antelope Award, 1988 Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, H.O.T. Council, 1989 American Achiever Award, National American Wholesale Grocers Assoc, 1990 Baylor University, Distinguished Alumni Award, 1990 Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith Food Distributor, Man of the Year, New York City, 1990 Baylor University, W.R. White Meritorious Service Award, 1991 Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Honoree, 1992 Texas A&M University, College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business, Master Entrepreneur of the Year, 1993 Michigan State University, Honorary Doctorate Degree, 1997 American Academy of Achievement – Golden Plate Award, 1997 Distributors International Herbert Hoover Food Industry Award, 1998 Houston Community Partners, Father of the Year Award, 2000 Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award Recipient, 2004 NASA’s Public Service Award, 2005 The International Society of Logistics (SOLE) Field Award for Supply Chain Mgmt, 2006 Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, 2008 University of St. Thomas, Ethical Leadership Award, 2008 Dallas Baptist University, Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award, 2008 Drayton and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Temple, TX, USA. They are proud parents and grandparents. They have two sons, Drayton McLane III and Denton McLane. Drayton III and wife Amy have two sons, Drayton IV and Brooks McLane. Denton and his wife Amy, also have two sons, Jeff and Jake McLane.