Donald Henriques Dyal

Donald Henriques Dyal, 79, of Lubbock, Texas passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026. Don was born in Loma Linda, California on February 1, 1947, the son of Donald Warren Dyal and Verma Clorice Henriques Dyal. He was the third of four children and grew up in California.

Don served a mission in the Argentina North Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended the University of Washington, Brigham Young University, and Texas A&M University, lastly where he earned a PhD in history. In addition, Don studied Spanish, French, Latin, and Turkish in college. Don married Lila Rae Sanderson on August 15, 1970. Don served in the Army, raised his family in Bryan, Texas, and then moved to Lubbock where he retired from Texas Tech University.

Don is the author of over a dozen books and well over a hundred monographs and articles in scholarly, as well as popular publications, and continued to write and publish in retirement. Don taught history for some 20 years and was the Mavis P. Kelsey Endowed Professor at Texas A&M University. Don created and built the rehabilitated, historic Cushing Library at Texas A&M University where he served as director for many years. He organized a mutual partnership between 200+ libraries in Mexico and Texas A&M University to share resources and developing informatics. At Texas A&M University, he was instrumental in raising over $20 million in donations to the Cushing Library and in building collections of national and international repute in art, history, and literature. Beginning in 2001, Don became Dean of Libraries at Texas Tech University until his retirement in 2014. An innovator by nature, Don created many new and ground-breaking services which were copied by research libraries across North America. President George W. Bush nominated him to become director of his presidential library in Dallas and Don served on innumerable national, state, and local associations and committees and also served in local government positions.

Don was also a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was a faithful servant of the Lord, and held many callings and positions within the church, including presiding over congregations in both Bryan and Lubbock. Don greatly valued his time as a temple worker and sealer in the Lubbock Texas Temple since its dedication in 2002. He also served for almost seventeen years as the Patriarch of the Lubbock Texas Stake.

In addition to the time and attention paid to his family, his career, and his service to the church, Don was a passionate fan of all forms of transportation - particularly sailing ships, authoring and publishing numerous articles and books on the subject. He also loved hot rods, classic cars, and history. He was a highly intelligent polymath, capable of discourse and professional research on a wide variety of subjects.

Don is survived by Lila Dyal, his wife of 55 years of Lubbock Texas, his five children; Joshua (Julie) Dyal, Samantha Dyal, Michael (Margaret) Dyal, Joseph (Brittany) Dyal, and Samuel (Vicki) Dyal, as well as his 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held at Lake Ridge Chapel at 6025 82nd St, Lubbock, TX 79424 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on March 5, 2026. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on March 6, 2026 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6310 114th St, Lubbock, TX 79424.