NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
Several hundred people gathered Monday morning for a service of Thanksgiving
for the life of Dr. Archie McDonald.
The longtime and well-liked historian and professor died Thursday morning.
Many of McDonald's colleagues, friends and family were seen entering the SFA Grand
Ballroom.
It was the largest room available to hold the hundreds wanting to pay their
respects.
Among them a state representative elect, a former Nacogdoches mayor, and a
fellow Rotarian.
"Archie was the epitome of Rotary," said Francis Spruiell, a fellow
Rotarian. "Everything he said, everything he did was worthwhile and benefited
others. I don't know a more selfless man than Archie McDonald."
"This service this morning was most touching, most complete and most wonderful
service I've ever heard given for a person," said former mayor AL Mangham. "He
would have loved it."
"The thing about Archie I really appreciated and loved was the passion he
had for our system and for the electoral process," said state
representative-elect Travis Clardy. "How important it was for people to be
involved and he believed in what we do in our democracy and how the process
should work and he believed in good government."
Among those delivering eulogies was SFA President Dr. Baker Patillo.
McDonald was 76.
He's survived by former Nacogdoches mayor and wife, Judy McDonald, son Chris,
and granddaughter, Kelly.
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