William Macdougall

William Lowell MacDougall of Arvada, CO passed suddenly at his home at Covenant Village on December 2nd, 2021. Commonly known as Bill; Uncle Bill; or his favorite, Great Great Uncle Bill; he was loved by many.

Bill was born July 24th, 1931 in Des Moines, Iowa to David Gregory MacDougall and Elizabeth Jeanette Dugan MacDougall at a Methodist hospital. At the time of his birth, his father was minister at Humeston, Iowa. The family moved to Des Moines and then Manilla, Iowa so Rev. David MacDougall could serve the Methodist church's there. At age 15 Bill moved with his family to Portland, Oregon. Two months later Bill’s father passed suddenly from a heart attack. Bill’s first known job was at a grocery store after school and on weekends in Portland. After high school Bill attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He received a degree in journalism in 1952 and continued on to Columbia University where he received the Michael Jackson Award in Journalism and was a Pulitzer Scholar from 1953-1954 and completed his Master’s degree.

In 1954 he joined the Air Force fearing he would be drafted anyway and he wanted a choice in what he was going to do. He served in Alaska as a military reporter and picked up a side job while there at the local newspaper as a reporter. He also was posted to Massachusetts and then leaving the service in 1956.

After his military service he became a reporter for the Washington Star from 1958 to 1962, a correspondent for the Los Angeles Times from 1962 to 1963, associate editor and then London correspondent for the United States News and World Report in Washington 1978 to 1986. While working for the paper he assisted in starting the ranking and annual report of colleges which is still used today and has grown to include a variety of fields and subjects. He became the managing editor for the US News and World report before he left the paper. In 1987 he served as the managing editor for the Arts Review magazine National Education Association and in 1989 was the president of the Mid-Atlantic Media Company in Arlington, Virginia.

Throughout his career he received many accolades and commendations including the George Washington Freedoms Foundation Medal and a citation in the United States Bicentennial Commission 1976. He had the opportunity to interview countless notable and influential people around the world and cherished his connections from Presidents of the United States to Artists like Andy Warhol.

Bill retired and spent many years in Arlington, Virginia where he enjoyed going to art museums, visiting with friends, and hosting people from around the world. He loved to have family and friends come stay with him. He valued his writing apartment in the country and spending time with his dear friends when there. William MacDougall was a published author penning American Revolutionary: A biography of General Alexander MacDougall in 1977, The Search for Virginia Dare in 1995, In the West beyond the Sea in 2001, and The MacDowalls in 2009. He also edited many other authors work because he enjoyed the process. He also wrote an autobiography, Reporter, that he only shared with the family and close friends.

In 2014 Bill moved to Arvada, Colorado where he enjoyed spending time with his young great, great nieces and nephews who live there. He was a man for whom family and connection were important. He enjoyed spending as much time as he could attending dance recitals, concerts, and events with them. Whether it was a birthday party or just an excuse to have the little ones over, he made sure to be available. He also encouraged them to write their own books and proudly displayed their artwork on his walls right next to, and more prominently than, pieces by artists like Andy Warhol.

Arvada United Methodist Church also enjoyed his time and attention. He often spoke of how much he enjoyed the sermons and services there. He had made many new friends in his time in Colorado.

All friends and family of William MacDougall are invited to attend the memorial service. For those that want to take part in the memorial service from a distance use the following you tube link on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 4:00 PM mountain standard time.

https://youtu.be/IP4YA57P7TM