The passing of a giant in Texas journalism – and that is the best description of Dave McNeely – evokes memories from those who knew him and those who have read his incisive reporting through the years.
After Dave’s death Aug 30 tributes flowed in to the Friends of The Daily Texan Inc., where Dave served as a board member for six years, only leaving his position a year ago.
Dave was a key part of the Friends board and will be honored with a scholarship in his name.
The intent is to raise at least $25,000 to establish an endowment in McNeely’s name to guarantee a perpetual scholarship, presented each year in his memory to a Daily Texan staffer by Friends of The Daily Texan.
The Friends group will start the fund-raising effort by pledging a $5,000 donation to the endowment on Dave’s behalf. Donations have started coming in from friends and admirers. Any size donation is appreciated.
Donations may be made at https://friendsdailytexan.wildapricot.org/donate or by mail at Friends of The Daily Texan, c/o John Reetz, 1655 Chevron Way, Atlanta, Ga. 30350.
Below you’ll find our current collection of memories from Dave, topped off with a memory shared by one of his closest friends, Rusty Todd.
This article will be updated periodically, so please share your thoughts, memories, appreciation and condolences here, and we’ll see that the family receives your remarks. Send comments to [email protected].
And please share this article so others may tell us their Dave stories.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate Dave’s life at University United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m., followed by a reception.
Remarks from Dave’s friends and fans:
Rusty Todd
Several months ago, I visited Dave and brought a six-pack of tallboys. (I had permission.) He was asleep in his easy chair, and I had trouble waking him up.
“Dave,” I said. “Come on. Wake up. Do you want a beer?”
He opened his eyes and said in that gruff voice, “I’ll have a beer.”
So he did. What good fortune to have been his friend. We are blessed by his memory.
Griff Singer
A great politics reporter, starting out as a bulldog but mellowing into a fantastic mentor and friend to journalists, whether they were a cub or a journeyman. A tremendous loss.
Bill Valdez
I was a cub reporter at the Austin American-Statesman in 1980 when I first met Dave. I had just gotten my degree in journalism and worked with Mark McKinnon as the national political reporter at the Daily Texan.
I was pretty intimidated by being in the big leagues at the Statesman but had the great good fortune to have my desk near Dave’s. He served as a mentor and was generous with his time and advice during my four-year tenure at the Statesman. So add mentor and just all around good guy to the many accolades for Dave.
Mariposa McGriffy (daughter)
My mother Saundra Lee McNeely was his first wife. She was by his side and taking care of his daughters while he was on The Daily Texan.
Fun fact: Every once in a while, he had baby duty overlapping with Daily Texan duties. He used a file drawer as a makeshift crib for his baby girl.
He was editor of the Texan when Kennedy was shot. He made the call to make an extra edition of the paper to reflect the news.
John Reetz
I came to The Daily Texan a few years after Dave. I was working at the Savannah Morning News and then The Atlanta Journal when he was becoming such a force in Texas politics and journalism. But I followed him from afar. He was one of four Texas journalists I followed routinely: Ronnie Dugger, Molly Ivins, Kaye Northcott and Dave McNeely.
His writing showed so clearly that he knew everyone, all the stories behind the scenes and was the premier expert on Texas politics. He knew where the bodies were buried.
I greatly enjoyed getting to know him and working with him during his six-year term on the board of Friends of The Daily Texan Inc. Supporting student journalists was one of his passions. He was an asset to the board and a strong supporter of The Daily Texan.
We talked on board calls and messaged each other a lot in between meetings, He always closed his messages to me with:
Peace, Dave
Paul Watler
I knew Dave through his wife Carole Kneeland. He was a stalwart of modern Texas journalism, a gentleman and a class act.
Kirk Bohls
So sad to hear this. He was a giant in our profession.
Fernand Dovalina
A great loss.
Tom Kleinworth
My favorite moment with Dave McNeely was at the ceremonies held at the LBJ Library to honor the 100th anniversary of the founding of The Texan.
During a break I was chatting with McNeely in front of the stage, and a man walked up and interrupted us to ask Dave a question about the schedule.
Suddenly the man stopped, turned to me and reached out to shake my hand.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said. “I’m Bill Moyers.”
I remember thinking: My mother still wishes I was that polite.
Karen Tumulty
I only met him a few times but admired him from afar.
Cliff Avery
It’s sadly ironic that Dave passed before the official 125th birthday of The Daily Texan. He was integral in the truly stunning 100th anniversary celebration. Here’s a glimpse of him moderating a panel with Walter Cronkite and Bill Moyers at that event.
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Laura Burns
Dave was a great contributor to the Austin Gridiron Show, both in the band and as an actor. One memory I have of Dave is of him doing the twist with a very pregnant Saundra (his wife) at a Texan party and at the end of the song saying, “Well, she didn’t have it yet.”
Leon McNealy
I knew him first as a journalism student. He sought out my views on dormitory segregation. He wanted precise details. He wanted facts. He discussed with me my column Dear Momma. There were standards that he desired for The Daily Texan. It had been said that the first thing that Texas legislators did in the morning was read The Daily Texan.
Dave never shied away from for standing up to presenting the events of the campus, the country and the world in a fair accurate manner. It was not easy being a young Black man at UT. The Daily Texan was my home. Dave always treated me warmly and respectfully. Dave was one of the lifetime friends that I made at The Daily Texan
The Daily Texan has produced many warriors who have defended the pillar of democracy.
My heart is broken.
John Pope
I always liked his insights. I could always count on him for good stories and historical context during our Friends of the Daily Texan board meetings.
Gerald A. Johnson
Sad news. He was such a kind man.
Steve Wisch
Dave McNeely was a burning comet as a reporter and editor – he absorbed fountains of information and rendered his work into lucid prose informing readers of the inner workings of Texas politics.
Dave was very generous and kind to me – and so many of our Texan colleagues – and helped me not stumble over myself when I had a gig writing daily color stories for the old Fort Worth Press – a long defunct Scripps Howard tabloid that was interested in the foibles of Tarrant County’s legislative delegation.
And Dave cared deeply about the future of Journalism. He had a genuine and abiding interest in the future of news gathering and its critical importance to democracy.
He was also a friend to so many of us.
Dave knew chapter and verse about the legislature.
That’s what so amazing about the history of The Texan. There’s been a wonderful network and fellowship where Texan alums farther along in their careers have helped new grads.
Dave helped so many of us and was exquisitely skilled, humble with a keen wit.
I will miss him.
Steven Barr
Thank you for the extra effort on this remembrance of Dave McNeely. It truly builds our community.
Dr. Richard A. Cole
He had a wonderful career and many friends.
Alicia Helton
Dave was one of the bunch during my two stints on the Texan, and I’m sad to see another one gone. Thanks for keeping us updated.
David Powell
He was a giant.
Sharon Colangelo
Thank you for the notice. He was the editor when I was a sophomore and considered the Texan my home.
Gary Borders
I hate to hear that. Dave was a damn fine journalist