Jack McLure:  

Life I never would have guessed that I would end up designing and building zoological exhibits for a living. I was constructing schools, post offices, bridges and all kinds of other boring things when in 1994 fate took me for a lucky turn. Needing a project and without a clue what I was getting into, I was the low bidder to the City of Dallas for the new Kimberly Clark Chimpanzee Forest at the Dallas Zoo. That was almost fourteen years ago now and I have been there ever since designing and building their exhibits. During that time I have had the pleasure of transforming what was once a public disgrace into what is now a world-class zoological park. I have come to know that the most valuable thing a person can have in life are their good memories – and I am grateful to have many. From the wonder years growing up in El Paso and going to school at Bonham, McArthur and Burgess to these silver years, I have always been blessed. It has been said that the hardest part of growing old is remembering when you were young. The older I get the better I understand what that really means. Anyway, a twenty three year long marriage ended for me early this year. It is turning out to be one heck of an adjustment. Like most things in life – it has its good parts and of course, the bad. I have my cameras, darkroom, fishing boat and best friend - an old dog named Tory to keep my busy when I’m not working. For an update. Middle Age Crazy sure can be fun. In mid October I purchased a new Honda Gold Wing and set out to find America. I took off for two weeks and visited the Western states. In just over 4,200 miles I was in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. Talk ab...Expand for more