Retirement hasn't slowed down work and projects for Dr. Jack McCullough as he gets more and more involved in such projects as volunteer work at the Conventions and Visitors Center, important citizen committees, research committees, travel and even back in the classroom for a few hours each day — not to leave out his important duties as past district governor of the International Rotary Organization.
Keeping busy has kept him healthier and happier than he would have ever been if he had just retired and stayed in, he said. He is a perfect example of the Senior Connection message: "Stay busy, be happy, never give in to 'old age.'"
Jack came to Nacogdoches more than 30 years ago to work on his master's degree at Stephen F. Austin State College. He was offered a job before he completed his degree but wanted to complete his degree work and did so at Texas A&M. His dissertation was on Tonkawa Springs in Nacogdoches County. He later returned to SFA for that offer. With a Ph.D. behind his name, he started his 35-year career teaching aquatic biology. The study of water, lakes and rivers continues to keep him busy traveling, doing research and working with communities solving water problems.
Jack was born in San Antonio, and is proud that his wife, Ela Ruth, in her hobby as a genealogist, has learned that he is a descendant of one of the first 300 families who braved the trek with Stephen F. Austin to settle in Texas.
Ela Ruth is enjoying retirement as an educator, the same as Jack, staying very busy and working on projects that interest her very much. At the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Center they usually work together for their volunteer duties, especially enjoying working the tours. Jack loves showing off Nacogdoches and talking about it.
Their home of more than 30 years is another of their joys. It is a showplace. Although well within the city limits, it is so secluded on its beautiful, hilly, wooded lot that a visitor has to be very alert not to miss the winding driveway. They have two cats for pets, but two of Jack's prizes are the Alaskan trophies hanging on the family room wall. (Ela Ruth admits dusting them occasionally and also drapes the antlers with Christmas decorations. Apparently she is proud for Jack's sake, but maybe they are not her favorite decorations). But he has fascinating stories to tell about his hunting trips in Alaska.
Many of Jack's projects have been with his membership in the Nacogdoches Rotary Club. He is a past president of the club and served a term as district governor. He is a model Rotarian. He and Ela Ruth have traveled all over the world attending Rotary international conventions.
One of his projects took him as a Rotarian and a biology professor to a village in South America near the Amazon River. There, to his dismay, he discovered the natives were infected with hook worms. Immediately he began working on a project. With the help of other clubs in his district and professional people, they were able to encourage a pharmaceutical company to donate supplies to treat the natives. The project was so successful that another country in Central America asked for help.
Very important projects for Jack as he serves are the Nacogdoches charter review committee and a very important study on the Sabine Lake estuary. That committee has about 20 South Texas members working on the estuary problems. Again it is right "up Jack's alley," studying water.
The only thing Jack seems to give up on is his yard. He is happy to find someone to help him with it. But otherwise he is so busy and so active and so is a great example for Senior Connection.
