Drayton McLane Jr.

Drayton McLane Jr. is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is chairman of McLane Group, a holding company he founded with a portfolio of diverse companies. Until 1990, Drayton was CEO of the McLane Company, a grocery and food service warehouse, supply, and logistics firm. From 1993 until 2011, he was chairman and CEO of the Houston Astros, a Major League Baseball team.

Drayton received a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1958, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Marketing from Michigan State University in 1959. Drayton worked at his father’s business, a wholesale grocery distribution company, and worked his way up from an entry level position there until he became CEO in 1978, and Chairman in 1992.

Drayton purchased the Astros in 1993, and up until 2005, the team ranked fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage. The 2005 season was the most successful season on the field for the Astros, culminating with their first trip to the World Series. Drayton sold the Astros in November of 2011.

Drayton is currently serving as Chairman of both the Texas Economic Development Corporation and Texas Central Partners High Speed Rail. In addition, he has served on the boards of multiple institutions, including Baylor University, Baylor Scott and White Healthcare, Baylor College of Medicine, The University Cancer Foundation MD Anderson, the Boy Scouts of America, United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast’s Pacesetter Campaign, Children’s Miracle Network, Temple Chamber of Commerce, the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, Happy State Bank, and others.

Drayton has been a benefactor of: Michigan State University, Baylor University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, and Texas A&M University’s Heal Science Center College of Medicine. He has received numerous honors and awards for both his philanthropic efforts and business achievements.

Drayton and his wife, Elizabeth, are active in their church, the First Baptist Church of Belton, Texas, and they also enjoy time with their family. Drayton’s motto is “Keep on charging!”, and he demonstrates this philosophy by remaining very active in his service on various boards of organizations, and in his ongoing philanthropic efforts to support organizations that help people and help the community.