First Pitch Luncheon

2026 First Pitch Luncheon | Tuesday, February 3rd| Waco Convention Center, Brazos Ballroom | 11:30 a.m.

For over 30 years, the Greater Waco Chamber has hosted luncheons to excite the community for upcoming sports seasons. Held annually in late January or early February, the First Pitch Sports Luncheon celebrates the start of baseball and softball seasons.

About the First Pitch Luncheon

Each year during the luncheon, attendees hear previews from Baylor University and McLennan Community College softball and baseball coaches and a special guest speaker.

Prior year speakers have included the Texas Rangers, broadcaster and “former voice of the Houston Astros” Bill Brown, the Texas Rangers’ Chief Financial Officer Kellie Fischer, former American League President Dr. Bobby Brown, former Astros Manager Larry Dierker, former president of the Texas Rangers Jeff Cogen, former Ranger and VP Jim Sundberg, Nolan Ryan and former Texas Ranger David Murphy.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The public is invited to join us.

Individual Member Ticket - $65 | Table of 10 - $600

Guest Speaker

The First Pitch Luncheon proudly welcomes influential entrepreneur, philanthropist, and sports executive Drayton McLane as the featured keynote speaker for its milestone 2026 event. His remarkable career and lasting impact across business, community leadership, and the world of sports will help set an inspiring tone for this year’s gathering.

Drayton McLane, Partner, McLane Group

Drayton McLane Jr.
Businessman, Philanthropist
Drayton McLane, Jr. serves as chairman of the McLane Group and is the former
CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club. A native Texan, this acclaimed
businessman, leader, and generous philanthropist, ensures the focus of all his
endeavors are based upon strong Christian values and moral ethics.
The grandson of a successful entrepreneur, Drayton experienced firsthand the hard
work and dedication it takes to successfully thrive in industry. He began developing
his tireless work ethic at age nine by working for his father at the family’s wholesale
grocery business, the McLane Company. Mr. McLane received his Bachelor of
Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 1958 and his Master of
Business Administration degree from Michigan State University in 1959. Upon
completion of his formal education, Drayton came back to begin working at the family
business loading trucks on the second shift. He worked his way up and by earning the respect and admiration of
his co-workers, he became president and CEO of the company in 1964 and held these positions for thirty years.
During his tenure, he propelled the McLane Company into a nineteen billion dollar company, achieving an
average growth rate of thirty percent per year. Following the McLane Company’s merger with Wal-Mart, Inc. in
1990, he became vice-chairman of Wal-Mart while maintaining his position at the McLane Company. After
playing key roles in each of these companies’ growth and productivity, he resigned in order to devote more time
to the McLane Group, a parent company consisting of family owned companies operating throughout the world,
which until November of 2011 included the Houston Astros where he served as Chairman and CEO. Drayton
McLane completed his nineteenth season with the Astros in 2011 when he sold the team. Over the years, their
philosophy remained consistent – bring home a World Series championship to Houston and make a positive
difference in the community. They were unable to bring home a championship, but they were the first Texas team
to make it to the World Series and they also made a very positive difference in the community.
Current Activities:
• George and Barbara Bush Foundation Trustee 2017 (George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation)
• Member, National Board of Governors, Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research
• Advisory Board, The Bush School of Government & Public Service - Texas A&M University
• Advisory Board, The Bush School of Governance & Public Policy
• Board of Trustees, Baylor College of Medicine (Emeritus)
• Board of Visitors, The University of Texas Cancer Foundation, M.D. Anderson
• MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Committee – 2021
Past Activities:
• Member Scott & White Memorial Hospital Board 1985 - 2013
• Chairman, Scott & White Healthcare Board of Trustees 1989 - 2013
• Board of Trustees, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare 2013 – 2025
• Baylor Scott & White Assurance Board 2013 –2025
• Chairman, Board of Trustees, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare 2013 - 2015
• Ex-Officio Central Texas Operating, Policy & Procedure Board – 2013 - 2025
• Chairman, Board of Trustees, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2001-2013
• Board Director, Happy State Bank
• Chairman, Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) 2019 – 2021
• Chairman, Texas Central Partners (High Speed Rail) 2017 - 2021
• Regent Emeritus, Baylor University - 2021
• Member, Baylor Board of Regents, 1991-2006
• Baylor University Board of Regents, Chairman Emeritus 2010 - 2020
• President, Baylor University Development Council, 1981• Chairman of the Board of Regents, Baylor University, 2002-2004
• Chairman of the Board, Temple Chamber of Commerce, 1978
• Chairman, United Way Campaign, Temple, Texas, 1983-1984
• Member Texas State Board, Mental Health and Mental Retardation, 1985-1989
• Chairman, United Way, Temple, Texas, 1987
• Trustee, Baylor University, 1988-1990
• Honorary Campaign Chairman, United Way, Temple, Texas, 1991
• Vice-Chairman & Director, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, 1990-1994
• Vice President at Large, Boy Scouts of America National Board
• Chairman of the Board, Children’s Miracle Network, 1993-1994
• Chairman, Pacesetter Campaign – United Way, Gulf Coast-Houston, 1994-1997
• Executive Committee Member, Major League Baseball, 1995-2011
• Board Director, Greater Houston Partnership, 1994-2000 & 2002-2008
• Chairman, Opportunity Houston 1.0 and 2.0
• Board member Heart of Texas Defense Alliance, 2013 – 2019
Honors:
• Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award Recipient, 1985
• Management Excellence & Achievement Award-University of Georgia, School of Business, 1985
• Arthur Young/VENTURE Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, 1987
• Boy Scouts of America Silver Antelope Award, 1988
• Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, H.O.T. Council, 1989
• American Achiever Award, National American Wholesale Grocers Assoc, 1990
• Baylor University, Distinguished Alumni Award, 1990
• Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith Food Distributor, Man of the Year, New York City, 1990
• Baylor University, W.R. White Meritorious Service Award, 1991
• Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Honoree, 1992
• Texas A&M University, College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business,
Master Entrepreneur of the Year, 1993
• Michigan State University, Honorary Doctorate Degree, 1997
• American Academy of Achievement – Golden Plate Award, 1997
• Distributors International Herbert Hoover Food Industry Award, 1998
• Houston Community Partners, Father of the Year Award, 2000
• Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award Recipient, 2004
• NASA’s Public Service Award, 2005
• The International Society of Logistics (SOLE) Field Award for Supply Chain Mgmt, 2006
• Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, 2008
• University of St. Thomas, Ethical Leadership Award, 2008
• Dallas Baptist University, Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award, 2008
• Baylor University Regent Emeritus, 2010
• Austin College, Honorary Doctorate Degree, 2011
• Texas Transportation Hall of Honor Inductee, 2011
• Central Texas Association of Fundraising Professional's Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012
• Baylor University Founders Award, 2013
• Mirabeau B. Lamar Award – For Higher Education, 2013
• Texas Healthcare Trustees Founders Award, 2013
• Sports Hall of Fame, Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award, 2014
• Cooper Institute, Legacy Award, 2017
• Children’s Miracle Network Founders Award, 2023

Drayton and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Temple, Texas. They are proud parents and grandparents. They have two sons,
Drayton McLane, III and Denton McLane. Drayton III and wife Amy have three sons,
and Denton and his wife Amy, have two sons. They are members of the First Baptist Church of Belton.