John Malcolm Weekley's Obituary
John Malcolm Weekley, a powerful force in Republican politics and Dallas civic elections in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, was born on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1943, and died in Dallas on December 5, 2025. A native Texan and son to the late C.F. “Jinx” and Claranelle Weekley, John was a public relations executive specializing in running political and bond campaigns and producing civic events.
A faithful Christian and lifelong member of Park Cities Baptist Church, John’s life reflected his values on love for God, his family, friends and his country. He was baptized in the Jordon River, an experience he described as unbelievable, “but the water was cold!”
In the early 1980s, John founded, along with Enid Gray, a formidable political consulting firm, also bringing in Democratic consultant Judy Bonner Amps to create Weekley Amps & Gray, reaching out across partisan lines to win bond elections. After the death of Ms. Amps, the firm became Weekley/Gray/McKinney, managing the campaigns of Republican candidates at a time when Dallas County was changing from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican one. The firm officed on McKinney Avenue and added the word McKinney to their name ‘because it sounded better.’
Those who retained the firm enjoyed stunning victories in difficult, bond and issue-oriented elections, including DART, the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas Symphony and Parkland Hospital. The firm managed elections for state legislators, countless judges, Dallas Mayors Starke Taylor, Jack Evans and Steve Bartlett, and many city council members.
“In Dallas politics, there was only one place to go, a modest little office on McKinney Avenue which doesn’t look like the center of politics in Dallas, but it is just that,” Texas Monthly said of the firm, which holds one of the winningest records in Texas politics.
John produced several civic events in Dallas, including the Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast for the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, the Hats Off to Tom Landry Parade in 1989 and the 1991 Southwest Stars and Stripes Parade, honoring military veterans from the Vietnam and Desert Storm Wars. A proud veteran, John served as a captain in the United States Air Force.
Later in his career, John was a political analyst for several Dallas-Fort Worth
television and radio stations, making regular appearances during election seasons. Additionally, he was often called upon to consult local groups, churches and civic organizations to lend his expertise and guidance on various campaigns.
John graduated from Highland Park High School, where he was active in the
ROTC program, and earned his degree from Southern Methodist University. A passionate community engagement advocate, he was a graduate of Leadership Dallas and served on many boards and committees over the years, including the American Red Cross Board of Directors and the SMU Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Advisory Board.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine West Weekley of Dallas, daughters Jennifer Weekley Dexter of McKinney, Amanda Weekley Sparr of Dallas and Heather Weekley Murphy (Blaine) of Dallas, grandchildren Holden Michael Sparr, Emma Jane Sparr, William Briggs Murphy and Blakely Alexis Murphy, sister Suzanne Leach and many cousins.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Park Cities Baptist Church, Ellis Chapel. Friends are invited to join the family for a private reception at a nearby location immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Weekley Family Endowment at the Moody Family YMCA or Operation Kindness.
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