John Albert Majors Jr.

Born in Dallas, Texas on January 18, 1920 to Dr. John A. Majors, Sr. (Doc JAM) and Lenox Dare Harcourt. Died on March 6, 2013. First and only husband of Margaret Jalonick Majors (Mockin), who died on June 23, 2006, after almost 59 years of marriage. John is survived by his five children: Dare Majors Gillette, Katherine Majors Gibson (Tia), Margaret Majors Badgett (Meg), John Albert Majors, III (Jam), and Christian Majors Love (Chris), his sons–in-law D. Dale Gillette, Dr. Burney W. Gibson, and Ross Jackson Love (Pistol), daughter-in-law Sarah Monroe Majors, and his nine grandchildren: McLaurin Dale Gillette, Katherine Reid Gillette (Kate), Margaret Majors Gibson (Meg), Katherine Allen Gibson (Katie), Emerson Ross Badgett, Majors John Badgett, John Albert Majors, IV, Marilyn Townsend Majors, and Malia Dare Majors. John graduated from Highland Park High School, Kemper Military School, and attended the University of Texas where he was an SAE, until he went into the military. He trained as a pilot at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio where he was a member of the famous 42X graduating class. After becoming the top cadet in his class and having his wings pinned on by General Hap Arnold, he was assigned to train other pilots in Lubbock for most of the war. Captain Majors continued his love of flying for most of the rest of his life, flying a private plane he co-owned all over the country. The children have memories of their Dad taking them up for night flights along with his beloved labrador retriever, Major. After the war, John went to work in the family businesses, J.A. Majors Company and Majors Scientific Books, Inc., both of which had been started by Doc JAM in 1909 in New Orleans and were later moved to Dallas. Over the years, Majors became the number one medical, scientific and technical book distributorship in the world and developed a thriving journal subscription business. Majors was known for its outstanding service and for the incredible people who worked for the companies. After the death of Doc JAM, John, his brother Bill, and sister Genevieve’s husband Jack McClendon ran the businesses. Under the second generation’s leadership, Majors thrived and expanded and had branch offices in Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta and Los Angeles. John retired in 1995 after 50 years in the business and is quoted in a book written about the Majors businesses as saying: “It wasn’t airplanes, mind you, but it has NOT been boring.” Before retiring, John saw his son Jam and nephew Al McClendon take over the responsibilities of the businesses. Besides his passion for flying, John loved to hunt and was a member of both the Fin and Feather Club of Dallas and the Coon Creek Club in Athens, Texas. John and Mockin used condos in South Padre Island and Santa Fe and traveled the world. In a trip to Europe in 1961, John shipped his beloved new fire engine red VW Beetle convertible back from Germany after driving it around Europe for 6 weeks. He learned to snow ski for the first time in his 40’s and enjoyed that sport the rest of his life. John was a member of the Salesmanship Club where he helped with the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament, the Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament, and the Salesmanship Club Cowboys football game; a major fundraiser and Board member for the YMCA’s Camp Grady Spruce; a Board member of Texas American Bank; served on the Highland Park Town Council’s Community Service Council for years; was an elected member for 6 years of the Highland Park Town Council; a member of the Idlewild Club, Terpsichorean Club, Comus Club, Dallas Country Club and Saint Michaels and All Angels Church (John and Mockin were one of the first couples married by the newly formed church); and a volunteer, fundraiser and officer for numerous charities including the American Cancer Society. The family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the loving care given to John by the staff of the memory care floor of Sunrise of Hillcrest, especially Janice Miller and Jackie Apple, the facilities nurse Maril Brown , and the facilities manager, Susan Lively; Dr. Craig Rubin, Dr. Amit Shah, and Natalie Garry with U.T. Southwestern; Cindy, Joe, Michele and Melody with Vista Care Hospice; Cindy, Susan, Reverend Bright and everyone with Vitas Hospice who took care of John in his last days; and Joyce Wilson. Words cannot express the gratitude the family feels for Evelyn Knight whose loving care of both John and Mockin for years gave the family peace of mind. John was truly one of the greatest generation who lived life to the fullest, and with the love of his life Mockin, created a loving, strong, God-centered family that anchored everything else in their lives. John’s family is grateful for the hilarious and wonderful stories of his and Mockin’s lives together that will resonate through the generations to come. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 4pm on Monday, March 11, 2013, in the Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas at Colgate, with a reception immediately following in the Church Parlor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southwestern Medical Foundation (for Alzheimer’s Disease Research) at 3963 Maple Avenue, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75219 or to YMCA Camp Grady Spruce at 9409 Garland Rd., Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75218.