Jack Streety Gorman

Jack Streety Gorman of Snyder died Saturday, February 20, 2021. Due to COVID-19, the family will gather for a private burial service in Snyder. A memorial for Jack will be held in Snyder when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Jack was born in Abilene, Texas on September 16, 1930, the only child of John Streety Gorman and Joyce Wilma Clemmer.

In 1952, Jack married Durelle Stokes and they made their home in Snyder, where they raised their two sons, Jack Streety Gorman II and Richard Ogden Gorman.

Jack was a long-time Snyder educator, devoting his entire educational career to the Snyder Independent School District where he also received his public-school education. Jack graduated from Snyder High School in 1948 and was a recipient of the Carl Herod award for athletics given at the time. Before injuries prevented it, he played football at Arlington State College. He later transferred to the University of Texas in Austin, where he received a B.S. degree in English and his teaching certification in 1953. He went on to add a M. Ed degree from Texas Tech in 1962.

He was an ROTC cadet during college and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation. This began a six-year career in the U.S. Army where he was trained as a language specialist, learning to speak the Czechoslovakian language. He was stationed in Germany for three years where he interrogated refugees from Czechoslovakia gaining information about things like troop strength. While in Germany, Durelle taught in the American School on the Army base. Jack was honorably discharged from the Army in 1958 and went on to serve 14 more years in the U.S Army Reserve and retired with the rank of Major. He briefly considered a military career, but with a wife and two young sons, opted for the stability of civilian life.

He and Durelle returned to Snyder in 1959, where he was employed as a ninth grade English teacher. After teaching for five years, he was promoted to assistant principal at Travis Junior High. Two years later, he was promoted again to principal of Travis where he held this post for nine years before assuming his position as assistant superintendent of SISD. He held this position for 14 years before retiring in 1988. Reflecting on his 30 year career in education in an interview with the Snyder Daily News, he said the following: “I told my teachers every day to have an encouraging word for a kid. They might not get that at home, but I wanted them to at least have a pat on the back at school. I felt strongly about that.” He also said, “The real reward is when some grown person comes up and thanks you for putting them on the right track”.

Jack loved his family, his teachers and his students. He was an encourager and good role model for them all.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Jack is survived by his wife Durelle of Lubbock, two sons, Jack Streety Gorman II and his wife Kim of Wolfforth and Richard Ogden Gorman and his wife Pam of Lubbock; his five grandchildren, Trey Gorman and his wife Tera of Renton, Washington, Charlie Gorman and his wife Jessica of Lubbock, Jay Gorman and his wife Dusty of Olton, Justin Gorman and his wife Jennifer of Menard and Kaycee Gorman Tabor and her husband Josh Tabor of Shallowater. Jack is also survived by nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3610 22 ^nd St., Suite 300, Lubbock, Tx 79410 or Colonial Hill Baptist Church, 3506 El Paso Ave., Snyder, Tx 79549.