 He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his sophomore year, and earned a varsity letter in crew.McNamara before commissioning into the Army Air Force, was a Cadet in the Golden Bear Battalion at U.C.Berkeley  McNamara was also a member of the UC Berkeley's Order of the Golden Bear which was a fellowship of students and leading faculty members formed to promote leadership within the student body.