Peace
Officer Gerald Jack McLamb, Retired - Age 69
Our beloved friend and brother, nationally-known peace
officer Jack McLamb, Ret., passed quietly into his heavenly rest on Saturday,
January 11, 2014 at Evansville, Indiana, surrounded by his loving wife, sons
and other close family. He had been in ill health for quite some time.
Jack was born on July 18, 1944 in Washington, D.C., and
schooled there, and later in Tucson, Arizona. After attending various
colleges, focusing on areas of selected studies, he served honorably in the
U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Various successful business ventures
followed for Jack, until at age 32, he found what would prove to be his main
life calling, as he entered the police academy in Phoenix, Arizona.
Serving as a peace officer, Jack quickly rose to prominence, and his
awards were many, making him one of the most highly decorated officers in the
history of his Department of over 2000 officers.
Perhaps the most disappointing, disheartening event of
Jack’s life was being forced into medical retirement due to severe injuries
suffered in the line of duty. He nevertheless continued his life work
educationally as a writer/publisher, international speaker, and patriot radio
broadcaster on several networks over many years. In 1998, Jack was led to
relocate his police and military education association from Phoenix, Arizona to
the beautiful mountains of north central Idaho. There, he lived happily
until just very near to the time of his final illness.
What most endeared so much of the nation to Jack McLamb
was his great, patriotic heart, his deep love for people, and their
constitutionally-guaranteed rights and freedoms, in defense of which,
especially, he devoted the last 37 years of his life. Both in active service
and ever since, Jack was known to many as “Officer Friendly.” The title
stemmed from a national school program of that name, designed by Officer
McLamb, in which police officers made the rounds to school classrooms and in
various fun and meaningful ways worked to build a bond of trust and friendship
between the children and the police. This fine program caught on within
Jack’s department, and eventually grew nation-wide in scope, once it was picked
up and sponsored by the Sears Corporation. But just in general, all who knew
“Officer Friendly” saw him as a living example and demonstration of all that it
means to be a Peace Officer - a true friend of the people and
protector of God-given rights and liberties, in distinct contrast to being a
mere enforcer of man-made laws.
In life, Jack married and was the father of three sons:
Matt (Ginger) and Jeff (Lee) of Phoenix, and Augie (Francis) of San Antonio,
and the grandfather of nine: Miles, Kelly, Grace, Nate, Nick, Natalie, Josue,
Rebekah and Emily.
He was of a deeply sensitive nature. His artistic
talents showed up early, in paintings dating back to his youth. He
excelled in sports such as track, pole-vaulting and tennis. He enjoyed
singing, and especially loved the ocean, and adventures like scuba diving and
snorkeling.
In addition to his children and grandchildren, Jack is
survived also by his wife, Angela, of Poseyville, Indiana, his sister, Sandra
Murray, of Show Low, Arizona, and his Aunt Betty and cousins, Bob and Dudley
Hasbrouck, all of Vancouver, Washington. He was preceded in death by his
parents, his sister Margaret Frazier of Ashburn, Virginia, Uncle Bob Hasbrouck,
cousin George Thompson of Phoenix and others.
Funeral services for Jack were held at Werry’s Funeral
Home in Poseyville, Indiana with a viewing on Wednesday evening, January 15th,
and the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. the following day. The services
were conducted by Jack’s very dear friend, Pastor Butch Paugh of Nettie, West
Virginia. Internment was in nearby Stuartville. Additional memorial
services in celebration of Jack’s life will be held soon in Phoenix, Arizona
and in Kamiah, Idaho.
Looking back sometimes on his own life work, Jack used to
smile and say, “It’s been good duty.” Indeed it has, Officer Jack.
Thank you for all you did to make the world a better place. Though
you’ll be sorely missed by all who knew and loved you, we can only commend and
offer our hearty thanks, as you go on your way now to a well-earned, happy
rest!
Anyone
wishing to write to Jack's wife...
Angie
McLamb
Box
627
Poseyville,
Indiana
47633
Ron Neil
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