DCCCD Mourns Loss of Veteran Administrator

Dr. Richard McCrary

For immediate release — Jan. 19, 2012

(DALLAS) — After almost 40 years with the Dallas County Community College District, Dr. Richard McCrary had served students in some way at almost every campus in the district. From his early days as a counselor at Mountain View College to his term as interim president at Brookhaven College, the DCCCD administrator shared his knowledge of higher education, skills as a counselor and sharp wit with everyone he met.

McCrary died on Saturday, Jan. 14, following a lengthy illness. A memorial service is scheduled on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m. in the Brookhaven College Performance Hall, Building C. Brookhaven College is located at 3939 Valley View Lane in Farmers Branch/Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Richard McCrary’s memory to either: the Richard McCrary International Study Abroad Scholarship, DCCCD Foundation Office, 1601 S. Lamar St., Dallas, Texas 75214-1816; or Resource Center Dallas, 2701 Reagan St., Dallas, Texas 75219. (When donating to the DCCCD Foundation online, use the link provided and select “other” from the drop-down menu under “Designation” on the form; then type in Richard McCrary International Student Abroad Endowed Scholarship.)

photo of Dr. Richard McCrary from the 1980s

Dr. McCrary in the 1980s

Dr. Thom Chesney, president of Brookhaven College, said, “The news of Richard McCrary’s passing has been difficult for me. We became friends and colleagues almost instantly while I was at Collin College. Richard ‘volunteered’ me to serve on a small group to discuss and align some of the key academic planning elements for the Dallas, Collin and Tarrant districts — in collaboration, instead of competition. His spirit and leadership in that weighty endeavor will not soon be lost on me.”

Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr., DCCCD’s chancellor, said, “Dr. McCrary has contributed in countless ways to the culture, community and growth of the Dallas County Community College District. He had a sense of history that served us well. He was dedicated to the success of every student. His sense of humor, attention to detail and knowledge of higher education will be missed.”

McCrary, who retired recently as BHC’s interim president, was an instructor/counselor from 1972-1977; director of counseling at Richland College from 1977-1981; executive district director of student and international programs from 1981-2008; associate vice chancellor of educational affairs from 2005-2008; interim vice president of learning and success at Brookhaven College in 2007; executive vice president and chief operating officer at Brookhaven College from 2008-2009 and its interim president from 2009-2011.

During his tenure as executive district director of student and international programs, he also served in several interim positions: director of the Rome Study Abroad Program in fall 1985; interim vice president for student services at Richland College in 1993; interim vice president of academic and student affairs at Cedar Valley College in 1996; and interim vice president of teaching and learning at Mountain View College.

McCrary loved to travel and had visited more than 40 countries on every continent except Antarctica. He cruised around the world through a semester-at-sea program and established the Richard D. McCrary International Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship, which provides financial support for students who are enrolled in a DCCCD-sponsored travel opportunity.

The Texas native earned his bachelor’s degree in history and English from East Texas State University; his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from ETSU; and his doctorate in education from Nova University. McCrary also was an education specialist at the University of Illinois, where his major field of study was student personnel administration in higher education. He also earned additional graduate hours of study from Ohio State University and the University of Alabama.

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Press contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819; ahatch@dcccd.edu
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