Davis McAuley

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 | Cyndi Wright

Bastrop County will say an emotional goodbye to longtime journalist, artist and community activist Davis McAuley, after he died Tuesday morning. McAuley had been battling cancer for some months.

McAuley will not only be remembered for his long service to the Bastrop Advertiser, but also for the way he documented local history and mentored many young reporters – as well as other co-workers.

“I didn’t study journalism in college, I was an art major, but I really learned a lot from Davis,” said Janice Butler, publisher of the Advertiser from 1989 to 2007 and a close friend. “The biggest and most important thing I learned from Davis was how to treat people whether they were good, bad or indifferent. They were still people and deserved respect. We learned how to tell their story accurately.”

McAuley retired from the Advertiser on June 6, 2008, culminating a run of more than two decades in two stints. McAuley was known for his grammar skills and news judgment. He served as editor from 1986 to 2008 and had previously worked at the Advertiser from 1978 to 1981.

“Davis was one of the best journalists I have worked for,” said current assistant editor Terry Hagerty. “He always emphasized writing with brevity and impact. He also had a dry wit that was much appreciated in the newsroom.”

A more in-depth story about McAuley and his contributions to Bastrop County will appear in the Saturday edition of the Bastrop Advertiser.

McAuley’s family is inviting everyone to come celebrate his life at a wake, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4 beginning at 4 p.m. at Upstart’s Annabelle Center, 1508 Cypress St. in Bastrop..

Arrangements under the direction of Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home, Bastrop, TX.