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<\/p>\nEach day, Jim McCollough walks through Clarence Foster Park, about 2 miles from his Arlington home. At this point, McCollough knows 90% of those he passes on his morning walks with his Maltipoo, Charlie.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he walks up the winding paths through the park, he knows the name of all he interacts with and their profession or hobby. Those who pass him know him as a kind soul who almost single-handedly led the revitalization of the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Welcome to 52 Faces<\/p>\n
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52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n McCollough\u2019s work and kindness earned him recognition in 52 Faces of the Community, the Fort Worth Report\u2019s weekly series spotlighting unsung heroes in Tarrant County.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say it takes a village to raise a child,\u201d McCollough said while strolling through the park. \u201cIn the city, there\u2019s a lot of little things that need to be done, and a lot of people are helping out here, there and everywhere. This just happens to be my spot because I like to see things grow.\u201d<\/p>\n McCollough\u2019s story begins in Hobart, Indiana, a residential town for steel mill workers, as he describes it.\u00a0<\/p>\n At 17, McCollough began attending classes at Purdue University.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI had an absolute blast, but only passed one course, and I was kind of ashamed of myself,\u201d McCollough said. \u201cI could have gone back on probation, but I didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n McCollough was left with two options in his mind at that point: Either join the Army or be selected in the military draft for the Vietnam War.\u00a0<\/p>\n He excelled on his initial military test, so McCollough was told he could go to flight school. Eventually, he jumped headfirst into becoming a helicopter pilot in 1965.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI made up my mind that I knew I quit on college,\u201d McCollough said. \u201cIf you quit this and quit that, pretty soon it\u2019s a habit, and you\u2019re a quitter. I said I\u2019d never quit on anything again. You couldn\u2019t blow me out of flight school with a stick of dynamite.\u201d<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n After four years of service<\/a> that saw him awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, McCollough returned home and earned a degree in mechanical engineering back at Purdue.<\/p>\n McCollough landed a job as a test pilot at what was then called Bell Helicopter<\/a>, a Textron company whose Flight Research Center is in Arlington.\u00a0<\/p>\n Soon after he made the move to Texas, McCollough discovered Clarence Foster Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n One day in 2022, he decided that he wanted to make a change at what had become his favorite green space.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a partially disabled veteran, and I get $1,000 a month from the government that I don\u2019t need for anything, so I got in the habit of looking around and seeing (if) maybe I can do something beneficial with that money,\u201d McCollough said.\u00a0<\/p>\n McCollough\u2019s initial idea was to plant 10 native pecan trees in the park. That idea was quickly dismissed by a head of the Arlington Parks and Recreation department who is no longer in that position.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018We\u2019re not going to have a civilian out there willy-nilly planting trees,\u2019\u201d McCollough recalled, laughing.\u00a0<\/p>\n After that parks administrator was replaced a couple of months later, McCollough and a few friends decided it was time to see change.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe initially planted three trees at the time, and then we added a few, and a few more,\u201d McCollough said, pointing at some of the first trees he planted.<\/p>\n McCollough, now 77, has spent plenty of mornings since then taking care of the trees. As the saplings began growing, he brought jugs of water each week to help keep them alive.\u00a0<\/p>\n McCollough says now he tends to about 24 trees that were either naturally planted or that he planted.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s earned the right to do whatever makes him happy.\u201d<\/p>\n James McCollough, Jim\u2019s son<\/p>\n Tending trees isn\u2019t the only work McCollough has done in the park. McCollough will bring his John Deere lawnmower to the park and mow or clear brush near the walking trail when needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n While taking care of the park is an extension of McCollough\u2019s love for nature, it also provides an outlet for him following a terminal illness diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n About three and a half years ago, McCollough was diagnosed with a rare progressive form of a disease called Lewy body dementia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n McCollough joined a research program through the UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he receives medication to help with symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the diagnosis, McCollough\u2019s kind nature hasn\u2019t wavered. He won\u2019t let it define him, McCollough said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe all got an expiration date,\u201d McCollough said. \u201cWe just don\u2019t know when it is, but I just try to make the best of every day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n His son, James McCollough, said that his work in the park has not only helped him stay active but helped with his symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s pouring so much of himself into that activity, but I\u2019m sure he\u2019s getting a lot of benefits back that\u2019s slowing down the progression,\u201d James McCollough said. \u201cIt\u2019s been great, and he\u2019s happy doing it. I think he\u2019s earned the right to do whatever makes him happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Arlington resident Bob Cox met McCollough while walking through the park. Cox said the retired pilot\u2019s openness to talk to others and his love for his family are two of his most admirable traits.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThose things mean a lot to me,\u201d Cox said. \u201cI see it in him, that\u2019s just a really good man. He\u2019s a really good man.\u201d<\/p>\n After continuously tending to the park, word of McCollough\u2019s passion made it to Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2022, the mayor honored McCollough, awarding him with a plaque to thank him for planting the trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n For McCollough, the years of work and money he has put into the project have been worth it.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI paid $1,722 for a lawnmower that cost me about $12 for gasoline. What do I care? It\u2019s like the old expression: Never saw a Brinks truck follow anybody to a graveyard,\u201d McCollough said. \u201cYou can\u2019t take it with you. I like the expression that money is like manure. It doesn\u2019t do you any good until you spread it.\u201d<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note: This story was updated Oct. 13, 2025, to reflect how Bob Cox met Jim McCollough.<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc4b What is local news worth to you?<\/p>\n Important decisions are made in our community every day. Your support ensures the Fort Worth Report can cover and share those stories \u2014 freely and independently.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/McColloughTree_Moss-.jpg\")
Arlington resident Jim McCollough poses next to the first tree he planted in Clarence Foster Park in Arlington Oct. 9 (Chris Moss | Arlington Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/McColloughBridge_Moss-.jpg\")
Arlington resident Jim McCollough talks about Rush Creek and its animals in Clarence Foster Park on Oct. 9. (Chris Moss | Arlington Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/McColloughSign_Moss-.jpg\")
A plaque commemorating Jim McCollough\u2019s work at the Clarence Foster Park in Arlington sits in front of a pecan tree Oct. 9. (Chris Moss | Arlington Report)<\/p>\n
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