In Memoriam: James E. Brooks (1947-2025)

McClure Engineering mourns the loss of retired Mechanical Drafter and Designer, Jim Brooks, who passed away on March 1, 2025 at the age of 77.

Jim was a cornerstone of McClure Engineering, starting as a drafter in 1965 and continuing until his retirement 47 years later in 2012 as a senior technician. Jim had the special distinction of being hand-picked by Chuck McClure himself. The principal of Sikeston High School recognized Jim’s exceptional talent and potential and recommended him to Chuck McClure. The aim was to assist Jim in securing a suitable job, given his inability to afford college tuition. In June 1965, Jim joined Charles J. R. McClure and Associates, marking the start of a distinguished career.

An outstanding designer and draftsman, Jim’s true gift became evident almost a decade into his tenure. He possessed an uncanny ability to diagnose problems in building mechanical systems. By the mid-1970s, his focus shifted from draftsmanship to testing, adjusting, and balancing mechanical systems. Jim’s expertise led him to become the senior technician, overseeing the firm’s most challenging commissioning assignments. His guidance and training shaped generations of young engineers at McClure Engineering, ensuring practical and successful mechanical systems.

Just ask Derek Troy, who remembers Jim teaching him the proper way to take field measurements, how to slice problems in half, how to document the readings, how to boil the information down to something that people can actually use, and many more tricks of the trade. This exemplifies the ongoing influence of Jim’s mentorship on McClure Engineering, even a decade after his retirement. In 1965, off the advice of a client, Chuck McClure took a gamble on a young high school kid and it would pay dividends for decades to come.

From a young high school graduate to major stockholder, Jim’s contributions spanned mechanical drafting, designing, troubleshooting, and commissioning. His lasting impact on McClure Engineering is a testament to his dedication and skill. Jim was part of a bygone era where employees devoted their entire careers to one company. In 2018, he returned to the McClure Engineering offices to participate in a video series celebrating the firm’s 65th anniversary, sharing his cherished memories of his long tenure. Watch a snippet from Jim’s video interview below.

Before leaving his interview, Jim left behind his office desk nameplate, a memento crafted by his daughter. It now holds a place of honor on the 5th-floor artifact display, a symbol of his enduring legacy.

Jim Brooks’ journey from a high school student to a junior drafter and on to a senior technician and mentor highlights his remarkable contributions to McClure Engineering. His memory will forever be cherished, and his impact will continue to inspire future generations.