Jack Cawood

1930 - 2023

Austin, Texas - On January 9, 2023, long time McAllen, TX resident Jack E. Cawood passed away peacefully in Austin, TX where he had moved to be closer to family.

Jack Cawood was born in Harlan, KY to William W. Cawood and Genevieve Milsap Cawood on February 21, 1930. At the age of 13 Jack and his mother moved to McAllen, TX where his mother had family. During WW II Jack became active in the Civil Air Patrol, flying over the Gulf of Mexico in search of German U-boats. Jack was an active youth, hunting and fishing throughout the Valley, lifeguarding at Cascade Municipal Pool and an active Boy Scout. He attended and graduated McAllen High School in 1948 going on to graduate from the University of Texas in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

After graduation Jack enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attended Officer Candidate School. He went on to serve as a Personnel Officer stationed in Eielson AFB near Fairbanks, AK and later Mountain Home Idaho where he met Margaret Louise Berens, an Air Force Nurse. After completing their active duty, Jack and Margaret were married in Charleston, SC in 1957 and were happily married for 58 years. Jack continued serving in the Air Force Reserve for 10 more years before retiring as a Captain.

Jack returned to McAllen with his bride and worked as a Real Estate Salesman for 5 years before becoming a Real Estate Broker, starting his own Real Estate Company, Action Realty. Action Realty was successful for approximately 50 years in both McAllen and Harlingen specializing in Residential and Commercial Real Estate along with Property Management and later Management of Associations. Jack helped to develop several neighborhoods in and around McAllen and Harlingen. In 1985 he was named Realtor of the Year by the Texas Association of Realtors.

Always trying to improve the Real Estate Profession, he was active in the McAllen Board of Realtors, the Texas Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors where he helped push for better legislation holding Realtors to a higher ethical standard. To that end, he helped organize Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse which later merged with Texans for Lawsuit Reform helping to make Texas a better state to do business.

Active in the community for most of his life, he was a member of the McAllen Lions Club for over 30 years where he also served as President. He served on the McAllen Municipal Hospital Board for several years as a member and later as Chairman. Always a supporter of the Boy Scouts, he served as Scout Master for Troop 13, with his close friend Charlie Thompson as Assistant Scout Master, and later as Merit Badge Counselor for Troops 7, 13 and 68. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed teaching his children how to hunt, fish and camp. Education too was important, and he was a strong supporter and advocate for the IDEA school model.

In 2007, Jack and Margaret retired to Air Force Village (later Blue Skies) of San Antonio, where they were active in the community and were able to enjoy their shared love of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and wood carving. Jack is survived by his brother, William Cawood, of Moseley, VA (with wife Nancy), brother-in-law Al Biederman of Durango, TX, daughter Mary Ann Cawood of Pearland, TX, son Paul Cawood of Austin, TX (with wife Candace) and several grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his wife Margaret Louise Cawood, son William David Cawood and sisters Chris Eanes and Connie Biederman. A memorial service is planned in McAllen, TX on March 18, 2023 (details to follow).