Rector “Choc” McCollum, a retired Dallas police sergeant and longtime advocate for public employee retirement systems, died July 16 in Plano. He was 69.

McCollum served more than three decades in law enforcement and later played a key role in Texas pension governance. He was a trustee on the Dallas Police and Fire Pension Fund board and a former board member of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems.

First elected in 2006 to Police Position No. 8 on the pension board, McCollum was reelected in 2010. During his tenure, he was a vocal supporter of defined benefit plans and brought a steady hand to board leadership.

“Rector’s contributions as a director reflected the principles our association promotes: fiduciary integrity, member advocacy, and transparent governance in public pension systems,” said Sherry Mose, President of the TEXPERS Board of Directors.  “His leadership helped shape the direction of public pension oversight in Texas.”

Born in Odessa, McCollum graduated from Odessa Permian High School and earned a degree in criminal justice from Southwest Texas State University. He joined the Dallas Police Department in 1976 and served 33 years in various divisions, including patrol, SWAT, the fugitive unit, Northeast Patrol and the youth division.

His legacy continues through those who followed him on the TEXPERS Board of Directors, including Jim Smith, who was elected in 2014, and current Police Position No. 8 trustee Terry Bratton.

“He was known for his sense of humor, love of storytelling, and dedication to those around him,” Mose said.

McCollum was preceded in death by his wife, Jill. Survivors include his children, Travis and Kathleen; his sister, Kathleen McCulloch; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Michael McCulloch.

TEXPERS encourages members to honor Rector’s memory by considering support for the Assist the Officer Foundation and Scottish Rite for Children, two organizations that reflect the values he lived by.