Jack was born in Riverside, California and grew up in the Los Angeles area. After graduating high school as class Valedictorian at age fifteen, he moved to Oregon when his family bought a ranch in Roseburg where he briefly worked as a ranch hand. Quickly realizing that ranching life was not for him, he joined the Army when he was just sixteen years old and spent the next twenty years as a career soldier having fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. After retiring from the Army, Jack attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in education. He became a high school teacher at Lanier High School in Austin for the next twenty-five years, which was highlighted by his being named the Texas State Teacher of the year for 1983-84. Jack lived a full life and was loved by so many whose lives he directly impacted.
He was married to the love of his life for 69 years, Darlene Porter, who predeceased him in December 2021. Jack is survived by two children, Linda and her spouse Bill Broaddus and Kenneth and his spouse Nancy Porter; four grandchildren, Jenni and her spouse Scott Carter, Chrissy and her spouse Tyler Payne, Matthew Porter, and Sarah Porter; five great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Tatum Carter and Emma, Zoe, and Caden Payne; three in-laws, Joann Evans, Bonnie Mikes and Tim Mikes; and three nieces, Debbie and her spouse Bob Davis, Pegi and her spouse Bob Coker, and Melissa and her spouse Bryan Denman, and one nephew John Mikes.
A graveside service for Jack will be held Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas 78731.
