Palestine High School Alumni Association

David Thomas McReynolds 1946

09 / 25 / 1929  –  01 / 18 / 2011

David T. “Dave” McReynolds, 81, of Amarillo died Tuesday, January 18, 2011.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Rev. Perry Hunsaker officiating and the Rev. John Wagoner assisting. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. in Stratford Cemetery by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.

Dave was born Sept. 25, 1929, in Waco to David “D.C.” Comer and Fannie Mae McElreath. He was raised in Palestine by his mother and stepfather, Charles Allen McReynolds.

He entered Texas A&M College in 1948 after graduating from Palestine High School in 1946. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets in F Flight AF at A&M. He joined C Co., 143rd Regiment and 36th Texas National Guard Division. When the Korean War began, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in March 1951 and served in various units.

He and Shirley Ann Dingler, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dingler of Palestine, were married May 11, 1954. The young couple made their home briefly at Hearne until he re-enrolled in Texas A&M to major in agricultural journalism.

While at A&M, he was a Distinguised Student several semesters and also served as summer editor of The Battalion, the student newspaper of Texas A&M and College Station.

He received a B.S. in agricultural journalism in May 1957, and his first position was with the Rosenberg Herald at Rosenberg. Shortly afterward, he was named editor of The Herald Coaster, a sister newspaper in Richmond. He served in that capacity until he went to The Galveston Daily Herald as mainland editor.

He was hired as editor of The Friona Star by W.H. “Hop” Graham, publisher/owner, in February 1958. Under McReynolds’ editorship, The Star won several regional and state awards for excellence.

Dave took the job of editor of The Cotton Gin & Oil Mill Press in Dallas in 1960 and worked at that position until he was once again contacted by Graham. The pair agreed on a partnership with McReynolds serving as publisher-editor of The Stratford Star in September 1962.

One year later, McReynolds purchased Graham’s interest in the newspaper and continued serving as publisher-editor for 18 years. During this time, he served as president of the Texas Panhandle Press Association twice, in 1968 and 1978. He later became secretary of the PPA and served in that position for 10 years. During that time, the newspaper was recognized for various awards, including one from the National Newspaper Association, a first-place award for Best Spot News Picture in 1979. He wrote a weekly column entitled “Mack’s Tracks” which appeared in the Amarillo Globe-News and the Stratford Star.

Mr. McReynolds and his wife took an active part in the Stratford community in various organizations and civic clubs over the years. During all these years, the McReynolds family was active in the United Methodist Church. Both Dave and Shirley served in various capacities in churches in College Station and later in all the cities where they made their home. Dave was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Amarillo and the Covenant Sunday School class.

The couple was also active in various community activities. Dave was a member of the Lions Club for more than 30 years, serving in several offices in Friona, Stratford, dumas, and later in Amarillo.

He received many awards for civic contributions. He was named a recipient of the PPA’s Hall of Fame award. In addition, he served as state chairman for the Future Farmers of America state conventions in Amarillo in 1997 and 1999. He received citations from the Jaycees while at Stratford, the Stratford FFA, Salvation Army, and many others too numerous to mention.

Dave also served for 14 years as a member of the Sears Panhandle Senior Council and was involved in the organization of The Canyons Retirement Center and later the organization and construction of the Craig Methodist Retirement Center, both in Amarillo.

He was preceded in death by a grandchild, Logan McReynolds, in August 2008.

He is survived by four children, David McReynolds and wife Charlotte of Houston; Tom McReynolds of Boise, Idaho; Pam and Miles Tollison of Katy; and Emily and Thomas Burnsed of Amarillo; six grandchildren, Ryan McReynolds of Houston, Diego McReynolds and wife Tawny of Ricon, Ga., Lauren and Justin Mack of College Station, Matthew Tollison and wife Kathleen of Houston, Haley and Wylen McAllister of Corpus Christi, and Charlene McReynolds of Twin Falls, Idaho; and three great-grandchildren, Westin and Hadley McAllister and Kendall Mack.

The family suggests memorials be to Olivia’s Angels, in care of BSA Hospice, 721 N. Taylor St., Amarillo, TX 79107; St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 W. Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX 79106; or Ronald McDonald House, 1501 Streit Drive, Amarillo, TX 79106.

Source: Amarillo Globe-News 01-20-2011