Recently, Place-4 City Councilman John Nichols brought me a copy of an obituary for Dr. Joseph J. McGraw (right), which appeared in a recent edition of The Bryan-College Station Eagle.
I didn’t immediately recognize Dr. McGraw’s name, but I should’ve: He served on the College Station City Council in 1969-70, and also volunteered his time as a member of the College Station Planning & Zoning Commission.
Judging from his obituary, McGraw clearly lived a life filled with love of his country, his community and his family. The World War II veteran passed away June 3 at the age of 86. He taught in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University and later became director of Planning for the College of Medicine at University of Kuwait.
Some quick research in College Station’s Historical Online Database — Project HOLD — turned up a number of references to former Councilman McGraw, who appeared to be a man of conviction and a tireless advocate of open government. The clip on the left from the April 19, 1970 edition of The Daily Eagle, as the newspaper was then known, is an example.
As College Station continues to observe its 75th year as an incorporated city, it’s worth noting that we’re looking for photos, stories and mementoes to include in Project HOLD so our history can be captured, preserved and shared. Learn more at cstx.gov/heritage and join the discussion at facebook.com/CSTX75.
Glad to know that Project HOLD is still being used as a city reference and that items of note are being added. It is an invaluable archive that was a labor of love for many and worth closer inspection by all. Thanks for bringing this insight into Dr. McGraw’s legacy to our attention.