Drayton McLane
Born 1936 · Age 90
American billionaire businessman. Built the family McLane wholesale grocery business into a national logistics enterprise, sold it to Wal‑Mart in 1990, founded McLane Group, and owned the Houston Astros (1993–2011). Major philanthropist and civic leader.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Cameron, Texas
Drayton McLane Jr. is born to the McLane family, the third generation in wholesale grocery business.
Begins working for family business at age 9
Started working summers and Saturdays sweeping floors and helping at the family wholesale grocery business.
Graduated C. H. Yoe High School
Completed high school in Cameron, Texas.
Earned BBA from Baylor University
Received Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University.
MBA (Marketing) from Michigan State University
Completed Master of Business Administration in marketing at Michigan State University.
Returned to family firm; night-shift truck loader
After graduate school he returned home and worked second (night) shift loading trucks at McLane Company for 18 months.
Promoted to Vice President of Purchasing
Three years after returning he moved into management as VP of purchasing.
Began 14-year tenure as General Manager of Operations (approx.)
Served around 14 years as general manager of operations prior to becoming top executive (dates vary by source).
Became President & CEO of McLane Company (source variant)
Some sources state he served as president & CEO from 1965; sources vary on exact start year.
President, Texas Wholesale Grocers Association
Served as president of the state trade association (1970–1971).
Major national expansion milestone (midpoint)
During his leadership the firm expanded from a small regional operator to a national distributor; 16 distribution centers were added over his tenure.
Listed as becoming President & CEO (alternate source)
Some sources note 1978 as the year he became president & CEO; included because multiple texts mention 1978.
Received Boy Scouts Silver Buffalo Award (first)
One of his early major civic honors recognizing service to youth organizations (sources cite first award in 1985).
Chairman, National American Wholesale Grocers Association (start)
Served as chairman of the national trade association (1986–1988).
Arthur Young/VENTURE Magazine 'Entrepreneur of the Year'
Recognized nationally for entrepreneurial leadership in the food distribution industry.
Received Silver Antelope Award (Boy Scouts)
National-level scouting recognition; part of his ongoing civic honors.
Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award (H.O.T. Council)
Another civic honor cited in sources.
Sold McLane Company to Wal‑Mart (transaction; cash + Wal‑Mart shares)
McLane Company was merged/sold to Wal‑Mart; Drayton McLane Jr. received cash and Wal‑Mart stock and took a role as vice chairman of Wal‑Mart.
Named Vice Chairman of Wal‑Mart Stores, Inc.
After the McLane Company deal he was named vice chairman at Wal‑Mart while remaining chairman of McLane Company for a period.
Received W.R. White Meritorious Service Award
Award cited in sources (listed among honors around early 1990s).
Founded McLane Group L.P.
Established McLane Group as a family holding company to manage investments and varied enterprises (McLane Group founded in 1992).
Inducted into Texas Business Hall of Fame (per sources)
Recognized by Texas Business Hall of Fame (sources cite induction circa 1992).
Agreement reached to purchase Houston Astros (announced)
Announced agreement with then-owner John McMullen to buy the Houston Astros (including Astrodome lease) for a reported total of $117 million (approval followed later).
Took full-time role as Chairman of McLane Group (resigned Wal‑Mart roles)
Resigned co-roles at McLane Co. and Wal‑Mart to focus on McLane Group and other pursuits.
First season as owner of the Houston Astros
Astros finished 85–77 in McLane's first season as principal owner (1993).
Named Texas A&M Master Entrepreneur of the Year (1993)
Recognized by Texas A&M University as Master Entrepreneur of the Year.
Front office shakeup: fired Bill Wood and Art Howe; promoted Bob Watson and Terry Collins
Major management change following 1993 season; Watson became GM and Collins manager.
Publicized cumulative team operating losses of $65M (by 1995)
McLane stated he had lost about $65 million on the Astros by 1995 and appealed to fans and business community to increase season-ticket base.
Hired Gerry Hunsicker as General Manager
After a GM search McLane and Tal Smith hired Gerry Hunsicker in November 1995 to build the Astros' front office.
Harris County stadium referendum passes
Referendum passed (by ~16,000 votes) enabling construction of a new baseball stadium (later Daikin Park/Enron Field/Minute Maid Park).
Astros win NL Central division title
1997 team (payroll ~$33M) won the National League Central — first division title since 1986.
Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)
Received the 1997 Golden Plate Award; national recognition of achievement.
Astros move into new stadium (Daikin Park / Enron Field / Minute Maid Park)
Franchise moved into a new downtown Houston ballpark in 2000 (stadium project enabled by 1996 referendum).
Named Houston Community Partners 'Father of the Year' (circa 2000)
Civic recognition for family and community contributions (source lists year 2000).
Signed major free agents Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte (offseason)
High-profile veteran signings during 2003 offseason; both players joined for multi-year stints.
Midseason Carlos Beltrán trade; Astros reach playoffs and win first postseason series
Trade for Beltrán contributed to late-season surge; Astros won NLDS but fell one game short of World Series in 2004.
Received Boy Scouts Silver Buffalo Award (second time)
Awarded the Silver Buffalo again in 2004 (sources indicate a prior award in 1985).
Astros win National League pennant; reach World Series
Astros won NL pennant and hosted the first World Series game played in Texas; lost World Series to Chicago White Sox (swept 4–0).
Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr. Chair in Health & Wellness established
Scott and White Memorial Hospital created an endowed chair in honor of Drayton and his wife (joint appointment with Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine).
Established major philanthropy to Baylor University (McLane Student Life Center, carillons, other gifts)
Major, multi-year philanthropic giving to Baylor, including naming of McLane Student Life Center and support across academics and athletics.
Nearly sold Astros after 2008 season (deal with Jim Crane fell through)
McLane was approached about selling the team after 2008; a near-sale to Jim Crane was not completed at that time.
Major benefactor: $4M gift to Michigan State baseball program
Contributed $4 million to MSU baseball facility improvements; stadium later named for the McLane family.
Michigan State names McLane Baseball Stadium after family following $4M commitment
Board of trustees approved naming Drayton McLane Baseball Stadium at John H. Kobs Field after a $4 million commitment by the McLane family.
Announced Houston Astros franchise for sale
Publicly announced he was selling the franchise, citing family reasons and noting a regional TV deal that improved valuations.
Sold Houston Astros to Jim Crane
Sale of the team announced/closed in November 2011; widely reported sale price was $680 million (some sources list $610M).
Sued by purchaser Jim Crane (breach of contract / fraud claims)
Two years after the sale Jim Crane filed suit claiming McLane misrepresented the value of the team's TV broadcast rights; McLane countersued.
Baylor announces McLane Stadium naming (December 2013)
Baylor University named its new football stadium McLane Stadium in recognition of the McLane family's philanthropy.
Chairman, Texas Central Partners High Speed Rail (serving)
Listed among his 'current' roles in sources; he is chairman of Texas Central Partners, the high-speed rail initiative (sources list as current role without start year).
Board roles and civic leadership (ongoing)
Served on many boards and civic posts including Boy Scouts national board (VP at large), Baylor Scott & White Healthcare trustees, Baylor College of Medicine trustees, and others (dates span decades).
Houston district court ruled favorably for purchaser Jim Crane (legal progress)
A Houston district court issued rulings in the litigation between Jim Crane and Drayton McLane; developments favored Crane in 2019 (per reporting).
Political contribution to Donald Trump's 2020 presidential campaign
Contributed $61,200 to the 2020 Trump campaign (itemized donation reported).
Named to Governor Abbott's Strike Force to Open Texas
Appointed to a task force charged with advising on reopening Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attempts to dismiss Crane lawsuit denied (rulings allow suit to proceed)
In 2021, attempts by McLane to dismiss the lawsuit were denied and the case continued in the courts.
Forbes estimated net worth (public estimate)
Forbes reported an estimated net worth of approximately $2.9 billion (October 2021).
Texas Supreme Court ruled Crane can proceed with lawsuit
In 2023 the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Jim Crane could continue with his lawsuit against McLane; prior appellate rulings had also favored Crane.
Key Achievement Ages
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