David McReynolds

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 21 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. Perry Hunsaker officiating and Rev. John Wagoner assisting.  Graveside services will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Stratford Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.David T. “Dave” McReynolds was born September 25, 1929 to David Comer (“D. C.”) and Fannie Mae McElreath in Waco, Texas and was raised in Palestine, Texas by his mother and step-father, Charles Allen McReynolds.He first enetered 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 United States 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, Texas, 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,” student newspaper of Texas A&M and the City of 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 at Richmond, Texas.  He served in that capacity until he went with “The Galveston Daily Herald,” Galveston, Texas 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,” Dallas, Texas, 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 the interests of Graham in the newspaper and continued serving as Publisher-Editor of the newspaper for 18 years.  During this time, he served as President of the Texas Panhandle Press Association (“PPA”) twice, in 1968 and 1978.  He later became Secretary of the PPA and served in that position for ten years.  During that time, the newspaper was recognized for various awards including one from the National Newspaper Association First Place Award for Best Spot News Picture, 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, Panhandle 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 over thirty 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 Panhandle Press Association’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.Survived by his wife, Shirley McReynolds; Their four children, David and wife Charlotte McReynolds 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 and Tawny McReynolds of Ricon, GA; Lauren and Justin Mack of College Station; Matthew and Kathleen Tollison 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.  One grandchild, Logan McReynolds preceded him in death in August 2008.The family suggests memorials to Olivia’s Angels c/o BSA Hospice, 721 N. Taylor, Amarillo, TX 79107; St. Paul United Methodist Church, 4317 I-40 West, Amarillo, TX 79106; or Ronald McDonald House, 1501 Streit, Amarillo, TX 79106.

---