Drayton McLane
Drayton McLane is a principal of Chapman Partners LLC. He also serves as chairman of the McLane Group, L.P. and is the former CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. Throughout his lifetime, he has become known as an acclaimed businessman, leader, and extremely generous philanthropist.
The grandson of a successful entrepreneur, Mr. McLane experienced firsthand the hard work and dedication it takes to successfully thrive in industry. He began developing his tireless work ethic at age nine by working for his father at the family's wholesale grocery business, the McLane Company. By earning the respect and admiration of his co-workers, he became president and CEO of the company in 1964 and held these positions for thirty years.
During his tenure, he propelled the McLane Company into a nineteen billion dollar company, achieving an average growth rate of thirty percent per year. Following the McLane Company's merger with Wal-Mart, Inc. in 1990, he became vice-chairman of Wal-Mart while maintaining his positions at the McLane Company. After playing key roles in each of these companies' growth and productivity he resigned in order to devote more time to the McLane Group, L.P., a parent company consisting of family owned companies operating throughout the world, and the Houston Astros where served as CEO from 1993 until its sale in 2011.
With a lifelong commitment to a diverse array of civic and philanthropic activities, Mr. McLane has lent his time and energy to several important community organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America, Baylor University, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, and the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast, among others.
Mr. McLane graduated with a business degree from Baylor University and a master's of business from Michigan State University. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Temple, Texas. They have two children and five grandchildren.