Former NRMCA Board Chairman Mike McNeill Dies at 87

Former chairman of the NRMCA Board of Directors Mike Lynn McNeill died on March 22 at 87 years old; the cause of death was pneumonia. Mr. McNeill was a resident of Stephenville, TX, at the time of his death. A native of Prescott, AZ, he worked for the Sante Fe Railroad for one year after graduating high school and then joined the US Navy, serving for four years, mostly in the Philippines, repairing radar on submarines and ships. After his military career, he worked for two years at Point Barrow, AK, on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, a network of radar stations established to alert the United States if threatened by aircraft attack.

After being discharged from the Navy, he enrolled at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX, followed by Texas A&M University in College Station where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering. Following graduation, Mr. McNeill was an engineer with the concrete and aggregate company Gifford-Hill in Dallas. During his 32-year career, he rose through the ranks of Gifford Hill, ultimately being named president of Gifford-Hill and retired in 1997. While working at Gifford Hill, Mr. McNeill was elected NRMCA Board chairman, serving in 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, sons Michael and Mark, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held in late March in Stephenville followed by interrment at Meridian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Kopperl Volunteer Fire Department, Attention: “Sunshine” Kuykendall, 14775 FM 56, Kopperl, Texas 76652;  First Baptist Church, Grace Place, 334 West Green St., Stephenville, TX 76401; or the Erath County Humane Society, 891 East Road, Stephenville, Texas 76401.