44th Annual

The City of Olney, Texas, along with many friends and family members, mourn the loss of Jack Northrup.

Jack Northrup, 80, left for his Heavenly Home on Friday May 1, 2015, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4th at the St. Luke Lutheran Church in Olney, Texas with the Pastor Shawn Reeves officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery under the direction of Lunn Funeral Home of Olney.

Jack was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 1935 to Harold and Beatrice Northrup. He was raised in Waverly, New York, and graduated from Waverly High School. Jack and Anita Northrup were married on April 18, 1984, in South Padre Island, Texas.

In 1954 Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army and was in the Field Artillery and later in Special Services entertaining soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico. While stationed there, Jack earned the chance to enter the All Army Talent Show at Fort Dix, N.J., on June 16, 1956 by winning his category between the bases in Panama and Puerto Rico. Jack’s attempt at Fort Dix was unsuccessful and he missed his chance to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show.

With only four more months remaining on his term in the service, the Army stationed him at Fort Bragg, N.C. One month later, in July 1956, Jack was involved in a three-vehicle accident that caused him to lose his right arm at the shoulder and proved to be a major turning point in his life. Jack was flown to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, where he spent 1 ½ years as a patient. During his stay and recovery, Jack helped arm amputees with their prostheses at the Army Prosthesis Research Laboratory where he was chosen to make a presentation to a Senate Committee about his research.
Jack remained in the Army for another 1 ½ years on a term called “Convenience to the Government” and was discharged in April 1958.

Jack attended Arkansas State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1964.

He then became a social worker for the state of Arkansas and later became a County Welfare Director before being named Executive Director of Urban Renewal and Public Housing in Marianna, Ark.

While in Arkansas Jack was the co-owner of the Arkansas Jamboree and appeared on the Slim Rhoades TV Show and the Mid-South Show. In addition he was the Director of an all male choir and Youth Leader at the First Christian Church.

Jack moved to Olney in 1972 from Marianna, Ark., accepting the position of City Coordinator, where shortly after the Arkansas Legislature passed a resolution making Jack a Southern Gentleman. The resolution commends him for his exemplary efforts on behalf of the handicapped of the state of Arkansas and the nation.
In 1972, Jack began helping amputees again by founding the annual Olney One-Arm Dove Hunt with then Young County Commissioner Jack Bishop. The first hunt was held September 9, 1972, and 10 one-armed hunters showed up. Over the last 43 years the event called “The most unusual event in the state of Texas” has gained worldwide recognition for the support and camaraderie it has provided to countless numbers of attendees.

In the 1970s, making his job even busier, Jack traveled the public circuit, doing humorous motivational speaking along with playing music where he entertained various conventions, colleges, chamber banquets, sports banquets, civic clubs and more. Even made metal signs on the weekends.
Jack started as the acting City Administrator of Olney in July of 1978, and became the fulltime City Administrator in June of 1979. He was the City Administrator for 22 years and upon his retirement, Jack had served in the public sector, both state and municipal, for 36 years.

Jack also served as a substitute teacher at Olney Junior High and High School, which kept him alert and helped him to understand the children in the community.
In 1985 Jack became a licensed auctioneer and volunteered his service for charity auctions.

Jack was very proud of his accomplishments and honors he received. Among these his name was added to the 1972 edition of “Personalities of the South,” and he received the honor of having his name appear in “Who’s Who in the South and Southwest” 1972 edition. As the City Administrator, Jack successfully obtained many federal and state grants for city improvement projects, updated the Olney Public Housing units, created elderly services (including Meals on Wheels), made park improvements, initiated summer youth programs, and renovated the youth center to convert it into a senior citizens and youth center.

One of Jack’s major accomplishments while he was Olney’s City Administrator was helping the city supplement its water supply at Lake Olney by having a pipe laid from Lake Kickapoo in 1993.

One of his favorite “meetings” was his afternoon ritual with his coffee friends where he played cornhole and the employees at Cub Drug.

Jack was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Jack loved his church, he loved life and lived it to the fullest. No one was a stranger to Jack and you had only to meet him once to know how special he was.

Jack is survived by Anita, his wife of 31 years; his children: Tanya Pierce; Jackie Gregg and husband Rod; Terri Eden and husband Tim; his step children: Randy McDougal and wife Linda; Tim McDougal and wife Sherrie; Johnna Jones and husband Kevin; his grandchildren: Toni Gomez; Tana Eden; Jennifer Pierce; his step grandchildren: Andy McDougal and wife Lisa; Ryan McDougal and wife Ashlee; Miranda Taack and husband Will; Jordan McDougal; Jared McDougal and wife Tasaha; Jacob McDougal; Paige Winingham; his great grandchildren: Eden Gomez; Ayden McDougal; Kalum McDougal; Braylon McDougal; and Brynlee McDougal; his brother: Bob Northrup and Dawn; his sisters: Shirley Lapre Westphal and Lou; Betty Fricks and Jim; and his very best companion, Yogi, along with Shelby, Macy and Chase.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church, Box 626, Olney, Texas 76374.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lunnfuneralhome.com.

1996/2014 One Arm Dove Hunt Association

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