George Richard McCown

1940 - 2017

George Richard (Dick) McCown

Marietta, GA

George Richard (Dick) McCown, 76, of Marietta, Georgia died January 28, 2017.

He was born on September 25, 1940 in Hazel Green, Alabama to parents George Dewey McCown and Jennie Speck McCown. He was first named George Dewey McCown Jr. and this was later changed to George Richard McCown as he had always been called "Dick".

After graduating from Huntsville High School in 1958, he received a football scholarship for the Citadel in Charlestown, SC where he attended and played football for one year. He later attended the University of Alabama and pledged with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and later attended Athens College near his hometown of Hazel Green. Then in 1961, he joined the United States Navy Reserve and served for three years including active duty training on a Navy Destroyer. He told colorful stories of his days in the Navy and was proud to have served his county.

In 1962, Dick joined Flack Lumber in Montgomery, AL where he learned the skills that lead him to the lumber and construction business and later a licensed General Contractor.

In 1970, Dick moved his family to Jackson, Mississippi where his three sons attended Jackson Academy and Jackson Preparatory School. One son George Richard (Dick) McCown Jr. predeceased George Richard (Dick) Sr. in a tragic auto accident in 1977 at age 14.

Dick McCown was active in the Jackson Northside Youth baseball League serving as both Commissioner and coach for several years until moving to Atlanta, GA in 1979. Both of his remaining sons, Steele McCown and Paul McCown returned to Mississippi to attend and graduate from the University of Mississippi.

In 1983, he married Madge Smith McCown, his wife of 34 years and is survived by her, his sons Steele McCown of Marietta, GA and Paul McCown of Fairhope Alabama; his stepchildren Robert Hollis Tharpe of Marietta, GA, Patti Ledbetter of Rome, GA and Kathy Siegel of Atlanta, GA; 15 grandchildren and his sisters Mary Francis Thomas of Reading, PA and Martha Vandiver of Huntsville, Alabama.

He loved his family firstmost, his dogs, bird hunting, construction and playing rummy cube with his wife.

A Family Graveside Service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, MS at 2:00pm Saturday April 29, 2017 where George Richard (Dick) McCown, Sr. will be laid to rest next to his first son George Richard (Dick) McCown Jr.