Memorial graveside services for the interment of cremains for 83-year old retired longtime Panhandle educator and writer Dick McGee are Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 10:30 at the Bayard Cemetery in Bayard, NE.
Online condolences may be left at legacy.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Chadron State Foundation, 1000 Main St, Sparks Hall, Chadron, NE 69337-2667.
Richard L “Dick” McGee was born January 7, 1940, in Scottsbluff, NE, the son of Robert E “Mac” McGee and Dorothy (Pullen) McGee of Bayard, NE. He died June 27, 2023, at his home in Mesa, AZ
Dick grew up in Bayard and graduated from Bayard High School in 1957. He married Barbara L Isaacs October 25, 1962, in Dix, NE.
Dick McGee received three college degrees-bachelors, masters, and educational specialist-from Chadron State College. He also attended Kearney State College, University of Nebraska, Columbia University in New York City, and University of Wyoming.
Richard was a teacher and a school administrator in the Panhandle region for more than 30 years. He taught at Dix and was a principal at Dix, Kimball, and Lusk, WY. He also taught at Chadron State College in Chadron, NE, and Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, WY.
Dick received a national award for his directorship of the Panhandle Educational Resources Center (PERC), a highly-regarded multi-media distribution system of teaching and media materials available to every school in the Nebraska Panhandle.
In addition to his education career, Dick was a writer. He wrote for the Bayard Transcript from the 7th grade through high school, covering sports and writing a weekly column called “High School Happenings.”
Dick continued news and sports writing during the two years he attended Scottsbluff Junior College, when he worked for the Star-Herald and later for KSTF-TV in Scottsbluff.
He was also a writer for the Fort Collins Triangle Review, Torrington Telegram, Sports Arizona, and DMI Publications.
Dick was active in working with youth sports in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona, and was a leader in the development of the first organized youth baseball program in Bayard in 1960.
He was a member of SABRE – the Society for American Baseball Research, National Education Association, Baseball Writers of America, Phi Delta Kappa, Cosmopolitan International, Red Mountain United Methodist Church in Mesa, and several other education and sports associations.
He is survived by his wife Barbara McGee of Mesa, AZ; daughter Richa (David) Perkins of Chadron NE; son Kevin (Sarah) McGee of Corona, CA; grandsons Robert Perkins of Chadron; Brandon Perkins of Omaha, NE; Ryan McGee, Kyle McGee, and Luke McGee of Corona; Thaddeus McGee of Topeka, KS; and granddaughter Lainey Mae McGee of Corona.
He is also survived by his brother John (Donna) McGee of Gillette, WY, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mac and Dorothy McGee; and his son Dr Deron L McGee of Lawrence, KS