Major Curren R. McLane

Curren R. McLane was born 10 October 1923. He graduated from Austin College and Austin Theological Seminary.

He enlisted in the Texas Defense Guard as a private in Sherman, Texas, April 1943, and in November 1962, he was commissioned Major, Chaplain Corps, Texas State Guard Reserve Corps and assigned as Chaplain, Headquarters, 1st Defense Group. In 1964, he was reassigned as Chaplain to the Headquarters Staff. He served a total of twenty-four years of which over twenty years were on the Headquarters Staff.

Among Chaplain McLane's contributions to the Texas State Guard is "The Texas State Guard Chaplain Corps, 1941-1981," an historical research publication which he wrote and published. He also revised the orientation manual for Texas State Guard Chaplains and actively pursued the recruiting of chaplains for the State Guard. As a result of his efforts, more chaplains were assigned to the Texas State Guard during this period than ever before. He devoted innumerable hours of his own time to the Guard, taking part in community programs, serving on various committees and study groups, and performing historical research. In addition, he regularly contributed an article, "The Chaplain's Corner" to the Texas State Guard Bulletin. Organizing the Texas State Guard chaplains to work as a team, he wrote "Salutes" to all chaplains so they could know each other better and developed a chaplain data form for each. He successfully headed the fund drive for the Texas State Guard for contributions to the Texas Guard's All Faiths Chapel building fund and through his efforts, the State Guard is fully represented in this symbol of pride, devotion and patriotism. All the while, Chaplain McLane distinguished himself as a Presbyterian minister, serving in Cuero, Mineral Wells and Fort Worth.

In recognition of his accomplishments and extensive devotion to duty, Chaplain McLane received the Texas State Guard Association's highest award, the Sam Houston Award, as well as the Texas Outstanding Service Medal, Texas Medal of Merit and the Texas Faithful Service Medal with four cactus leaf clusters.

Texas State Guard

1986