Jack completed the ultimate race - the Marathon of Life - on Friday, November 28, 2008 at 8:40pm.
He crossed the finish line with style. Success in life results from a balance in all areas of life:
spiritual, family, physical, emotional, social, and career. Jack’s life exemplifies this balance.
Jack did not let life pass him by... He Explored it, Experienced it, and Lived it!
Sir Winston Church Hill said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
" Everyone who met Jack experienced his life of giving, especially when it came to running.
Jack was always willing to give to others - physically (water to the thirsty),
mentally (words of encouragement), or spiritually (reminding us to enjoy the beauty of God's creation).
Please keep Sherri and the family in your prayers during this difficult time.
Like all of you, I will miss him. " Go Jack Go! "
Bill Goodier
Jack E. Rector, 83, Oklahoma City, died November 28, 2008, in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. Rector attended high school in Enid, OK, and immediately
entered the Air Force in World War II where he flew 40 missions on a
B-24 in the South Pacific as an aerial gunner. Following the war, Rector
graduated from Oklahoma State University and later completed a Masters
Degree in Industrial Management at Oklahoma City University. He was with
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company for thirty years. The last twenty were
as Manager of Industrial Development where he successfully assisted
locating several manufacturing industries throughout Oklahoma and
Western Arkansas. Active in business and civic work, he had been
Chairman of the Oklahoma Governor's Industrial Team, District Governor
of Toastmasters International, President of Oklahoma City Junior Chamber
of Commerce, Chairman of Central Oklahoma Chambers of Commerce,
President of Oklahoma City Ski Club and President of Oklahoma City
Running Club. His first wife, Jo Lou Douglass Rector, preceded him in
death. He is survived by his wife, Sherri Rector, Oklahoma City, OK
daughter, Lisa Rector Berry, and her husband, Bill, and grandchildren,
Josh and Kristal Berry, Bella Vista, AR daughter, Lynn Rector, Oklahoma
City, OK and step-sons, Don and Corey Jameson, Oklahoma City, OK. Rector
was an avid competitive runner for 48 years and an active promoter of
the Oklahoma City Running Club. He and his wife, Sherri, were training
coordinators for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathons where he was known
as an icon of the running community. Because of the number of years
encouraging other runners, he was often called a guru of Oklahoma City
Running.
There will be a memorial service for our friend and coach, Jack
Rector.
Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 1 P.M.
Celebration Center Chapel
Church of the Servant
14343 North MacArthur
OKC, OK
(405) 721-4141
On the day of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in
2005, Jack E. Rector of Oklahoma City was asked by a reporter from The
Oklahoman about the volunteer training program he and his wife Sherri
conducted for marathon runners. His response was indicative of his
commitment to helping others. "This morning, I always stay until the
last runner comes in," he said. "I had people coming up and saying, 'I
wouldn't have been able to do this without group training.' That's my
reward." Jack Rector died Friday in Oklahoma City. He was 83 years old.
Services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday in the chapel at the Church
of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur Blvd. "The thing about Jack was he
lived a life of joy and he wanted to share that with other people," said
Thomas Hill, president and co-founder of the annual Oklahoma City
Memorial Marathon. "One way he did that was by introducing people to
running. People loved to run with Jack. He was a great encourager and a
fantastic coach."
A love of Running
Rector, a strong supporter of
the Oklahoma City Running Club, was a competitive runner for 48 years.
He not only ran marathons throughout the United States, but also
internationally, including a marathon in Paris. Again, it was the
training program that exemplified how much he desired to share his love
of running. The build-up training program for runners started in
November 2000 in preparation for the inaugural Oklahoma City Memorial
Marathon in 2001. The first year, Rector received about 30 inquiries via
e-mail and had about 12 runners show up at the group runs. In 2004, the
number of requests to be included on the e-mail training list was up to
165. As many as 65 runners participated in group runs. However, by 2005,
at least 255 e-mail requests came in. The lowest number of runners at a
group run was 75. He and Sherri also led training for the 2006 marathon,
with about 500 people on the e-mail list and more than 200 people at
several of the group runs. The World War II veteran who worked for
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. for 30 years also held numerous positions
in business and civic groups. By Bryan Painter
NewsOK.com, 12/2/2008
...we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load....
(The Servant Song, by Richard Gillard)
…they who wait for the LORD shall renew their
strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
