Howard Dane McMahan, age 86, passed
away on December 19, 2016.
Memorial Service Thursday, December
29th 3 pm at First Jefferson Unitarian Church,1959 Sandy
Lane, Fort Worth, TX 76112.
Howard, the youngest son of Irl and
Anna McMahan, grew up on a dairy farm in Rossville, Kansas. After
receiving a Bachelors Degree from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
in 1952, he received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from
the University of Kansas in 1954.
While doing an Administrative
Internship in University City, Missouri, he met his wife, Myrtle
Shucart. He did his thesis on the history of University City, working
for Elder Gunter, a pioneer in City Management. Howard was drafted
into the Army in the fall of 1954. On December 8, 1954, Howard and
Myrtle were married.. Howard served two years, stationed at Fort
Chaffee, Arkansas where daughter Deborah was born.
In 1956, Howard went to work for the
City of Kansas City, Missouri in the Research and Budget Department,
where he worked with Jerry Brownlie for the first time. The
McMahan's second daughter, Brenda, was born there.
In 1959, the McMahans moved to Boulder,
Colorado, where Howard served for 2 ½ years as Director of Finance
and Record and son Michael was born.
In 1962, the McMahans moved to
Littleton, Colorado where Howard served as City Manager until 1966.
Howard spent many months rebuilding the city that had experienced a
devastating flood.
In 1969, Jerry Brownlie, City Manager
of Fort Worth, Texas enticed the McMahans to move to Fort Worth. It
was an exciting time in the history of Fort Worth, as Dallas and Fort
Worth had just signed the documents to build the DFW Airport. Howard
became Fiance Director and helped purchase much of the land that the
airport sits on. In May 1967, Mr. Brownlie resigned, and Howard, age
37, was appointed City Manager, where he served until March, 1971.
In March of 1971 the US Government
offered him a position as Regional Director, Region VI, Department of
Health, Education and Welfare. He was appointed by President Nixon
in February 1972 as Chairman, Southwest Federal Regional Council.
In January 1974, the McMahans moved to
Oklahoma City where Howard served as City Manager for 2 ½ years.
In the Spring of 1976, Jerry Brownlie,
then CEO of Justin Industries, offered Howard a job and the McMahans
returned to Fort Worth. Howard served first as Vice President of
Justin Industries and then as President of Justin Boot Company.
Howard spent the last 14 years of his
working career as a Senior Vice President of Harris Methodist
Hospital System overseeing their hospitals in rural areas. He retired
in 1996.
Howard was active in the Unitarian
Universalist Faith. He served twice as President of First Jefferson
Unitarian Universalist Church, was one of the founding members of
Westside Unitarian Church where he served twice as their president.
He served on the North Texas Association of Unitarian Universalist
Societies as their treasurer, and as treasurer of their Endowment
Fund.
After a fire in the McMahan's home in
1983, prior to 911, Howard helped the Girl Scouts and the League of
Women Voters, Howard being one of their first male members, get the
issue put on a ballot. Upon formation, he chaired the 911 Board.
Howard was instrumental in uniting
Harris Methodist, St. Josephs, Hugley, and Arlington Memorial
hospitals and forming Community Hospice of Texas. He chaired their
board for almost 10 years. In addition, Howard served on many other
boards and chaired the Fort Worth Ambulance Authority Board. In May
of 2000, Howard was named 1999 Volunteer of the Year, City of Fort
Worth.
Howard was a Rotarian for many years,
and was a member of the Ten Spokes Investment Club. In more recent
years, the McMahans became active members of the Friendship Force of
Fort Worth, traveling to many interesting countries and hosting
members from other countries.
Howard's greatest achievements, pride
and joy, however, were his marriage of 62 years to his wife Myrtle,
and his family: 3 children and their spouses, 9 grandchildren and
their spouses and 9 greatgrandchildren.
The family would like to thank James L.
West Alzheimer Center for caring for Howard the past three years and
Community Hospice of Texas for assisting in his care these past few
months.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
that memorials go to Westside UU Church, Community Hospice of Texas,
James L. West Alzheimer Center or the charity of your choice. As he
believed he could continue to make a difference after his death,
Howard donated his body to University of North Texas Medical School.
Howard McMahan is survived by his wife
of 62 years, Myrtle, daughter Deborah Dawson, husband Mark, daughter
Brenda McKeon, husband Gene, son, Michael McMahan, wife Robin,
grandchildren: David Dawson and wife Jill, Nicole Langdon and husband
Mark, Daniel Dawson and wife Laurel, Natalie Gonzales and husband
Tony, Will McMahan and wife Amanda, Wendy Davis and husband Brandon,
Dane Dawson and wife Krista, Waverly Krystaponis and husband James,
Whitney McMahan, 9 greatgrandchildren and sister-in-law Merilyn
Moonshine.
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