Jack Arnold Logan

Jack Arnold Logan

Birth: March 12, 1939
Yantis, Wood County, Texas
Death: February 17, 2018
Hurst, Tarrant County, Texas

Jack loved to tell stories, and one of his favorites was the story of his birth. In March of 1939 his mother, Annie, went into labor on their farm in Yantis, Texas. Jack’s father, Curtis, took off on horseback to fetch the doctor from town. When they returned home, Annie had delivered Jack by herself, cleaned and clothed him, and was holding him close to her heart.

From this moment on, Jack’s life was full of great adventure and greater stories. As a little boy growing up in East Texas, Jack recalled gathering hickory nuts with his brother Carroll, sitting atop the old mare named Nell yelling “gee!” and “haw!” as his father plowed, walking across the road to the Yantis Cemetery with Grandpa Thompson to visit Grandmother Frances before walking to town for a peppermint stick, and one day seeing a World War II military plane land upside down in a field close to home.

In 1944, when Jack was just five years old, he and his family moved to Dallas. It wasn’t long before Jack became an entrepreneur in his own business ventures and secured his first job at the age of 11 working as a ride operator at the Dallas Zoo. Once while entertaining a small train full of children, he accidentally derailed the train. Jack remembered how none of the parents were upset by the incident, but instead helped him place the train back on the tracks and they were off once again. Jack went to work at Fair Park in 1953 at the age of 14, working again for the Stinnett family. His first assignment was to operate the beautiful Dentzel Merry-Go-Round, built in Germany in 1923.

While in high school, Jack joined the Army reserves and then voluntarily entered the Army soon after his 18th birthday. He served for nearly five years in the United States Army, from April 1, 1957, until he was honorably discharged in March of 1962. He did his training at Fort Hood, Texas. Before entering the Army, Jack had never had a driver’s license, and was later forced to get one when his superiors discovered he was unlicensed while serving as the Major’s driver.

Later, during the Cold War, Jack served in Germany as a radio operator with his tank group. On several occasions, his unit went into the field deployed at the German border across from the Russian Army. Jack travelled throughout most of Western Europe visiting at least 10 countries and skiing in the Swiss Alps. While in Germany, Jack got to meet and pass the time with Elvis Presley when Jack’s unit, the 15th Cavalry, was hosting their “Winter Shield” field exercise in which Elvis’ unit participated.

In April of 1960, Jack was released from active duty, but remained on inactive reserve for two more years. He was glad to be home and back in Dallas with family and old friends. Jack had achieved the rank of Sergeant in the Fourth Armored Division before his honorable discharge in 1962.

Jack met his wife, Linda, in January of 1961. Linda’s friend Paula occasionally visited her father who worked with Jack. One day, Paula approached Jack and said, “Jack, if you’ll get me a date with Johnny, I will get you a date with a really pretty girl.” Jack took Paula up on her offer, not knowing he was about to meet the love of his life.

Linda was 17; Jack was almost five years older. Linda was understandably a little wary of the older man who came to pick her up for their blind date. She answered the door with her baby cousin in her arms and a story prepared to scare Jack away. Linda told Jack that her late husband, a Navy man, had died aboard his ship with scorched lungs; every bit of which was false. Jack walked away from their date thinking Linda was older than she really was, but he was completely smitten. He spent the next few weeks calling her for another date, and her mother would answer every time to tell him Linda was not available. Eventually it clicked for Jack that Linda was not who she claimed to be, but that didn’t matter. Linda finally answered his calls and the rest, as they say, is history. In May of 1962, Linda graduated from high school. Later that year on December 29th, she and Jack were married. If you ask Linda, she’ll tell you that Jack knew the first day he met her that he would marry her, and his determination paid off. Jack and Linda celebrated 55 years of marriage in December of 2017.

Jack and Linda went on to raise four beautiful children; each of them will be quick to tell you their favorite moments with their father. One thing is certain: Jack loved his family fiercely and never passed on a chance to make them laugh. He became the proud grandfather of 12 grandchildren, some of whom are following in his footsteps as either amateur or professional entertainers.

Jack attended both Arlington State College and North Texas State University majoring in Economics.

Jack’s passion for people led him to a long and successful career in sales and management within the transportation industry. During the latter half of his 40-year career working for various major freight lines, he built operations generating revenue in the tens of millions of dollars.

Jack will be remembered through the countless stories he told over the years, his sense of humor and love for making people smile, as well as his tireless dedication to his family.

Survivors include Jack’s wife, Linda, and their four children, Lisa Walker (Joe), John Logan, Scott Logan (Heather), and Matt Logan (Simonetta) of Dallas, Texas.

Twelve grandchildren including Phillip, Madeline and Annie Walker (Lisa), Drake, Nick, Travis, Zachary, and Abigail Logan (Scott), Matthew and Isabella Logan (Matt) and Andrew and Bonnie Logan (John).

Additional survivors include Jack’s eldest brother, Floyd Herman Logan, of Lavergne, TN. and many nieces and nephews whom he adored.

Jack was preceded in death by his loving parents, Curtis and Annie, and his beloved siblings Carroll Logan (Shirley) and Helen Bolton (Bill).

Viewing will be 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28th at Lucas Funeral Home, 1321 Precinct Line Road in Hurst, Texas. A celebration of life will take place on Thursday, March 1st, 11:00 a.m. at Lucas Funeral Home. Jack will be buried with Military Honors on Thursday, March 1st at 1:00 p.m. in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Phillip Walker, Drake Logan, Nick Logan, Matthew Logan, Travis Logan, and
Trent Karl. Junior pallbearer is Zachary Logan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of Jack’s memory can be made to the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation, 1001 E 101st Terr, Suite 220, Kansas City, MO 64141 or https://pkdcure.org/donate/ are appreciated.