Gerald “Jack” Jackson McLamb, 69, of Poseyville, Indiana and formerly of Kamiah, Idaho, born to Gerald and Margaret (Stratton) on July 18, 1944, in Washington, D.C., was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend to many. He loved his family very much. Surrounded by his loving wife, sons and other close family, our nationally known, husband, beloved friend and brother, retired Peace Officer Jack McLamb, passed peacefully into his heavenly rest on Saturday, January 11, 2014 in Evansville, Indiana.
As a youth, he lived in Washington, DC and with his special aunt and uncle, Betty and Bob Hasbrouck and family in Tucson, Arizona. As a youth in Arizona he developed his athletic skills in pole vaulting and tennis and was very artistic. He loved the ocean, scuba diving, snorkeling and animals. After graduating from high school he had completed some college and decided to join the Navy thinking he was going to be a Navy Seal as he had already been scuba diving certified. However, once in they sent him to the jungles of Puerto Rico at an intelligence radio communication site during the Vietnam Era. On his time off he spent a lot of time spear fishing in the coastal waters. He served honorably in the Navy. Upon getting out of the Navy he moved to California and was very successful with Amway. Continuing to work with Amway, he and his family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and also sold insurance.
At the age of 32 he had a special calling to become a Peace Officer and entered the police academy in Phoenix, Arizona. As a Peace Officer, Jack quickly rose to prominence, and his awards were many, becoming one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of his Department of over 2000 officers. One night at a meeting in Sun City, Arizona his life was forever changed. A little old man in the back of the room spoke up during the question and answer period and ask him about police duties and the US Constitution and he didn’t know the answer. He quickly educated himself on it and learned what the US Constitution said and how things should be done as a Peace Officer. Soon after, he started educating other Peace Officers. During his time as a Peace Officer he originated the “Officer Friendly” Program in Phoenix, Arizona and Sears became a sponsor of it. It was a program in which Peace Officers visited the school children to help them to be better acquainted with them. He would take Sneakie the Snake and Alli Oops the Alligator to the children in the classrooms and they loved it. Jack loved animals and later in life had cockatoo’s, geese and dogs. He had a very sensitive and caring heart. He was injured in the line of duty and had to retire. He continued his work educationally as a writer/publisher, international speaker and radio broadcaster on Republic Broadcasting and Genesis Communication and other Networks. In 1998 he relocated his police and military education association from Phoenix to reside in the beautiful mountains of north central Idaho.
Jack was well known as Officer Friendly, being a living example and demonstrated what it meant to be a Peace Officer – protector of the people’s rights per the Constitution – in distinct contrast to that of mere enforcer of the law. His motto was, “If police officer’s and soldiers will not enforce tyranny, it will never be enforced”. Also, Jack assisted Bo Gritz, who was called in by the FBI to negotiate with Randy Weaver and family in the siege at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, memories that were forever in his heart.
What has endeared much of the nation at large to Jack McLamb is his great heart and deep love for people, and for God-given American rights and freedoms, in defense of which he especially devoted the last 37 years of his life.
Jack is a member of the American Legion in Kamiah, Idaho and for many years donated to the Peace Officer Memorial Foundation for fallen officers.
Surviving are his wife: Angela (Straub); three sons: Mathew (Ginger) McLamb of Glendale, Arizona, Jeffery (Leona) McLamb of Scottsdale, Arizona and Agustin (Francis) McLamb of San Antonio, Texas; a sister: Sandra Murray of Show Low, Arizona; 9 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; his aunt: Betty Hasbrouck; cousins: Bob and Dudley Hasbrouck of Vancouver, Washington; family dogs: Tessa, Dono, Sunshine, Babie, Tiger, Muffin, Peekaboo and Arthur and his cockatoo’s: Precious and Cuz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister: Margaret Frazier; uncle: Bob Hasbrouck; cousin: George Thompson and others.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2014, at the Werry Funeral Home in Poseyville, Indiana with burial in the Stewartsville Cemetery with full military rites. Pastor Butch Paugh officiating.
Visitation will be from 4–8 p.m., Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at the funeral home.
A celebration of his life will be held later in Phoenix, Arizona and Kamiah, Idaho.