Roll Call Tribute

John Thomas "Lamar" McNew, Jr. 

July 19, 1932 - April 9, 2024 

John Thomas "Lamar" McNew, Jr., 91, of College Station, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 5:00 PM at Aldersgate Church with Rev. Mario Parga officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Lamar was born in July 1932 in Bryan, Texas to John Thomas Lamar McNew Sr. and Edna Murphy McNew. At the age of six, his dad sent him door-to-door collecting signatures on a petition to incorporate College Station. Lamar attended A&M Consolidated School where he first met the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Miller (Liz), whom he would marry in 1954. Following in his father’s footsteps, Lamar earned a degree in Civil Engineering. A proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of ’53, he served as a Company Commander in the Corp of Cadets, was a member of the Singing Cadets, and served as a President of the Memorial Student Center.

Igniting a lifelong love for flying, Lamar served his country in the United States Air Force as a Fighter Pilot Flight Instructor. At the end of his service, Lamar and Liz answered God’s calling to medicine. While a student at Southwestern Medical School Lamar quenched his passion for flying by pulling weekend strip alert for the Texas Air National Guard flying F-86 Sabre Jets. He graduated from medical school in 1962.

Lamar returned to Bryan-College Station after completing a rotating internship at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, practicing medicine in Irving and Navasota along the way. He impacted countless lives with his gentle caring and deep conviction that patient needs were more than just physical, but also spiritual. Beyond a full-time obstetrics-intensive family practice to the underserved, he was instrumental in establishing the Texas A&M Family Residency Program. Lamar served as a clinical professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine providing countless opportunities for many medical students’ first experiences delivering babies.

Living out his call to the practice of medicine, he was active in the Bryan-College Station area, the state, and across the world. Lamar was instrumental in creating the “Family Physician of the Day” program for the Texas Legislature and he traveled as far as Nepal to teach safe practices to doctors and midwives. Throughout his life, Lamar was a mentor to countless. His passion for teaching medical students led to the Texas Medical Association’s annual J.T. “Lamar” McNew Award to recognize and honor his dedication to residents and fellows. God’s calling to medicine culminated in a career spanning 49 years and the delivery of over 7,500 babies.

His walk with the Lord Jesus Christ was at the forefront of his life. He loved to share the story of his faith and invest in the spiritual lives of those around him. He was a founding member of Aldersgate Church in College Station, served as a Christ Life facilitator, established a ministry providing Bibles for the incarcerated across the state, and was up many mornings before sunrise to study the Scriptures with his men’s group.

He was preceded in death by his parents J.T.L. McNew, Sr. and Edna Murphy McNew Orr, sister Elizabeth Smith, and his love, Elizabeth Ann Miller. He is survived by his three children; daughter Saralyn Morris and husband Bill, son J.T.L. “Kyle” McNew, III and wife Michele, and son Loc McNew and wife Courtenay. Grandchildren; Celeste Gossman and husband Travis, Holland Morris, Janette McNew-Hickerson, Miller and Murphy McNew. Great grandchildren; Mackenzie, Reagan, and Ashlyn Gossman, Maddie and Brayden Hickerson, and countless other beloved family members.

The family would like to thank the wonderful and compassionate staff from Hospice Brazos Valley and Crestview Court who made his final days comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Aldersgate Church, Hospice Brazos Valley, or a charity of your choosing.