City Civic Leader Jack U. LaMonte, 59, Dies

Jack U. LaMonte, Vice Chairman of Mistletoe Express Service and Oklahoma City Civic Leader, died Wednesday at Mercy Health Center,where he had been hospitalized several weeks.  He was 59.  Services are pending at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home.  LaMonte, a former director of The Oklahoma Publishing Co., was also a past president and chairman of the United Appeal for Greater Oklahoma City.  He had been board chairman of the Salvation Army, past president of the State Safety Council, former chairman of the Oklahoma City Traffic Commission, trustee of Mercy Hospital and member of the lay advisory board of St. Anthony Hospital.  He was a founder of Citizens for Police Improvement, vice president of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, board member of Oklahoma Science and Arts Foundation and active with Variety Health Center.  Mistletoe is a subsidiary of The Oklahoma Publishing Co.  "Jack LaMonte exemplified the great American dream of working his way to the top," said Edward L. Gaylord, President of The Oklahoma Publishing Co. and Chairman of Mistletoe Express Service.  "He started as a dock worker in 1939 and became president of Mistletoe Express Service in 1974.  "For many years he was 'Mr. Mistletoe' and he enjoyed building Mistletoe from a small unprofitable trucking firm to the largest express company of its kind in the South.

LaMonte spent most of his time as a successful manager of Mistletoe, but he always had time for civic and charitable work.  He was active in the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and the State Safety Council. He was a 'nut' on safety and his safety programs at Mistletoe saved many lives," Gaylord said.  "He spent hours for the Salvation Army and Mercy hosptial, as well as many other institutions.  He was a director of The Oklahoma Publishing Co.  "Best of all, he was a good citizen and civic worker," Gaylord said.  Upon joining Mistletoe on March 30, 1939, LaMonte worked 54 to 60 hours to $18.50 per week.  He was promoted in May, 1940 to the job of city driver-salesman - a position he held until October, 1942, when he was moved up to the job of district supervisor, traveling various areas of the state working with various outlets of the Mistletoe operation.  In 1943, he was reassigned to the home office as assistant agency manager and in January, 1945, was made agency manager.  In July, 1951, he also assumed the title of sales manager and in July, 1952, he was promoted to assistant manager.  He was promoted to the position of manager of Mistletoe in September 1953, and in January, 1958, was named executive vice president and manager.  He continued to move up in the organization and was elected to the board of directors of Mistletoe Express in January, 1958, and to the board of directors of The Oklahoma Publishing Co. in May, 1958.  "If I have a philosophy - and it is one that I use myself and one that I have frequently passed on to people that I work with - it is that no job or career is worth having unless you like what you are doing," LaMonte once said.  "This doesn't mean that there won't be times when you won't want to chuck it all," he continued.  "When you consider the hours you put in at you job or career, the time spent going to and from work, the amount of  time sleeping, there are very few hours left in the day.  "I don't think anyone can be successful or rise in his profession or job unless he has a deep feeling that 'this is what I want to do."  As chairman of the 1965 United Appeal drive for greater Oklahoma City, LaMonte helped raise $2.06 million for various community projects.  While president of the Citizens for Police Improvement, LaMonte's group recommended higher pay for police as well as numerous other suggestions designed to improve police service.  In 1970, LaMonte was in charge of a $360,000 fund raising effort for the Salvation Army. He was also a former board member of the Central YMCA.  LaMonte enjoyed gardening and boating. 

He was born in Oklahoma City March 14, 1918 and lived here virtually all of his life. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen, of the home 2508 NW 68; a son, Dr. Sam LaMonte, Pensacola, FLA.; a daughter, Linda K. LaMonte, Oklahoma City; two brothers, Albert LaMonte and Tom Hall, both of Oklahoma City, his mother Mrs. C. E. LaMonte, Oklahoma City and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Mercy Health Center.

Jack U. LaMonte Jr. 

Services are set Saturday, for Jack U. LaMonte, Vice Chairman of Mistletoe Express Service and an Oklahoma City Civic Leader who died Wednesday at Mercy Health Center after a long illness. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. at Our Lady's Cathedral.  Smith & Kernke Funeral Home will direct burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.  {The remainder of the obituary says the same as above.}

Mary Ellen (Cookie) LaMonte, 62, wife of the late Jack LaMonte, Board member Variety Health Center, benefactor to Mercy Health Center and St. Gregory's College.

Survived by daughter, Linda K. of Oklahoma City, Son, Dr. Sam LaMonte of Pensacola, FL., 4 grandchildren, Jimmy, Jon Mark, Laura, and Ashley.

Services pending with Smith and Kernek Funeral Home. Memorials maybe made to the Mercy Health Center.

Transcribed and submitted by Margaret Gagliardi, January 2009