I felt compelled to reach out after reading the article Delores McCain wrote in August 2010 highlighting myself and other high school seniors who were awarded the Third Unitarian Scholarship. Seeing her words again brought back a flood of memories and deep gratitude.
For years, I often wondered what became of Ms. McCain — a woman who not only interviewed us, but encouraged us, prayed with us, and personally comforted a nervous young man, as I prepared to leave home for Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. As an 18-year-old preparing to move 12 hours away, I was filled with uncertainty. Her kindness and reassurance helped ease my fears in a way I have never forgotten.
Through reading your articles from 16 years ago, I was saddened to learn that Ms. McCain died just a month after I left for college. I never had the opportunity to tell her that I successfully graduated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and later earned my MBA from Belhaven University. I have always wanted her to know that her words, her faith, and her encouragement truly mattered.
Please know that her investment in me made a lasting impact. Because of Ms. McCain’s willingness to uplift and affirm young people, I carried hope and confidence with me throughout my collegiate journey and beyond. I wanted you — and everyone at the Austin Weekly — to know how meaningful her presence was in my life.
Thank you for continuing to preserve and share stories that remind us of the legacy of remarkable individuals like Delores McCain.
Thaddeus Wright
Dear Thaddeus,
This note means the world to us as Delores was one of the bright lights at Austin Weekly for so many years. Her ability to reach out and connect with people in Austin, to ask for their views on local issues, to share their voices with the neighborhood was very powerful.
Let me share the story of how I met Delores. I was at my desk working, swamped as usual. Phone rang and it was a person I’d never talked with and she was steamed. Wanted to know if we were planning a Black History Month section and if not, why not? I said we didn’t have a plan to do a special section that year as we were shorthanded. That was unacceptable to her. And, fairly exasperated, I said, if you want a special section, why don’t you help us create one? Thought that would shut her up. Instead she took me up on it. And without any particular training in reporting, she did it. And it was good.
That led to her suggestion of the Street Beat column in the Weekly. And soon after, she joined us as one of our front desk people, a role she played until she got sick.
Really became the heart-and-soul of the place. Wonderful person.
And your description of your encounter with her at Third Unitarian rings so right.
Thanks, Thaddeus.
Dan Haley
