of North Little Rock, AR

April 3, 1931 - September 13, 2024

Lt. Col. Jack Richard McCollum, USAF Retired, died on September 13, 2024. Jack was born in Modesto, California on April 3, 1931, to Mildred J. and Clarence R. McCollum. His father Clarence was a WWI disabled navy veteran, who owned and operated a dental lab. His mother, Mildred J. Moye McCollum, was an RN who began her career by caring for those in veteran hospitals.

Growing up in Pittsburg, California, Jack spent many weekly camping trips in the mountains with his mother where his father would join them on the weekends. He made deliveries for his father's dental lab and was an active member of the Boy Scouts. As an only child to older parents, he was loved and spoiled-he even had a BB gun shooting range under his house! Jack graduated from Pittsburg High School and then attended the University of California, Berkley where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History in 1954. During his college years he ''slung hash'' at a sorority house, was a member of the Arnold Air Society (a National Air Force Honor Society) and the Scabbard and Blade (a National Military Honor Society), and was an excellent marksman, winning several awards for his precision. Jack also sailed with the yacht club in San Francisco and took many a date to dance halls where he enjoyed big band music, especially Jimmy Dorsey.

Lt. Col. McCollum entered the United States Air Force for office training and became proficient with many aircraft, spending much time piloting the KB-50 tanker, based on the B-29 airframe. He also logged time with B-25 Mitchells in flight training, as well as other multi-engine propeller and single engine jet aircraft. He was based in Langley, Virginia, Smyrna, Tennessee, and other bases for training and missions before his tour in Vietnam where he was stationed in Thailand. During his time at Langley, Jack received an Air Force Commendation Medal for the invention of the ''McCollum Bundle.'' This device allowed for aerial delivery training. It was used to simulate both heavy equipment and personnel aerial delivery.

Jack's most significant missions involved piloting the AC-130 Spectre gunships based in Ubon, Thailand over the skies of Vietnam in the early 1970's alongside squadrons of fighters. He was attached to the 16th SOS squadron, known as the ''Fighters with Four Engines'', and spent many hours patrolling against NVA and VC intrusions along the Ho Chi Minh trail; lending much needed fire support to US Army and SV ground forces. Several gunships were lost due to enemy ground fire and also to technical incidents during this much heated time of the conflict. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his efforts during the conflict. Some of his other USAF awards include the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Combat Readiness medal and Marksmanship medals.
Returning to the US, Lt. Col. McCollum was assigned to flight training for C-130 crews at Little Rock Air Force Base, conducting live, simulator and classroom training. He was responsible for flight and aeronautical training of USAF as well as NATO and other international partner air forces, before retiring honorably. He also served in the USAF Reserves. Upon his retirement, Jack went back to college, attending the University of Central Arkansas and receiving an accounting degree. He worked for the State of Arkansas as a Legislative Auditor until his retirement, 20 years later.

Jack was an active member of Park Hill Presbyterian Church, where he met Ann whom he married in 1974. While there he spent much time managing the budget and working the building and grounds. He was also involved with The Stewpot, a local outreach program that provides free lunch to the homeless and impoverished at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Little Rock. He was responsible for the budgeting and payables for a number of years; he also picked up food donations, secured volunteers, and served in the kitchen.
He started the ''Arkansas Villagers Club'' a local group of like-minded Dickens Village lovers who met, bought, sold and traded Dept 56 porcelain houses. As his extensive collection grew, he and Ann added on to their house, designating one whole room as the ''Dickens Room.''
Jack became an avid Razorback fan upon his marriage to Ann (which occurred on the same day as a Razorback vs USC football game) and they travelled to most home football games, many basketball games and several SEC basketball tournaments. Jack and Ann also travelled extensively in the United States, always going somewhere north for a month to escape the humidity ''and walking around in my own bathtub'' of the southern summers.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Clarence McCollum, his daughter Teri McCollum and stepdaughter Carlanne Atherton.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, 11 months, and 30 days, Ann, whom he adored; his daughters Leah (Rob) McKechnie, and Lara McCollum, all of North Carolina, Marta (Jim) Magaw of Pennsylvania, Shannon (Troy) Duke of Arkansas, and grandchildren Meredith Duke, Rankin McKechnie, Laralyn McKechnie, and Ella Magaw. Also left to remember him is his cousin and family, Walt Curtner of Colorado and a stepdaughter DeDe Carmouche of Kentucky; sisters-in-law, Sue Dablock and Pat Dees; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Jack had a huge heart and loved deeply. He adored children and was generous to a fault. He loved Christmas, California apricots and licorice pipes. Always seen with a camera, he was the family historian, even capturing you in mid-chew. But most of all, he loved to tell war stories to anyone who would listen, and he was very proud to have served in the military. He loved his country, his family and God.
May he rest in peace.

Visitation will be Friday, December 27 at 10:30 a.m. at Park Hill Presbyterian Church. The memorial service will follow beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by inurnment at the Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Avenue with full military honors. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116.

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