Harry Malcolm Louden

1911 - 2006

Harry Malcolm Louden died Thursday, June 29, 2006, at his residence in Waco.

Funeral: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Ave. with the Rev. Jimmie Johnson officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery. Services are through Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey at 6101 Bosque Blvd.

Pallbearers: Grandsons, Keith W. Louden, Brian J. Louden, G. Malcolm Louden Jr. and D. Taylor Louden, and close family friends Mike Meadows, Joel Florsheim and Yogi Florsheim.

Memorials: Mac and his family have suggested that personal remembrances be contributions to a charity of choice or Golden Memory Memorial Fund, First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Austin Ave., Waco, Texas 76701; Cook Children's Medical Center, 801 Seventh Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76104; or Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297080, Fort Worth, Texas 76129.

Mac was born April 4, 1911, at Stowe Township, Pittsburgh, Pa., to Minnie Zimmerman and George Taylor Louden.

He attended schools in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio State University in 1933 with a degree in engineering. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He was a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and Texas.

He married his junior high school sweetheart, Olive Lenore Gooding, on Sept. 29, 1934. In October 2004, Mac and Olive were recognized by President George W. Bush when they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. His most beloved wife, Olive, died Aug. 3, 2005, just before their 72nd wedding anniversary.

Mac worked for the Aluminum Company of America in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1933 to 1937, then with Owens-Illinois in Muncie, Ind., before transferring to Waco in 1942 for construction and operation of the OI glass container plant. He retired from Owens-Illinois in 1976 as the plant's administrative manager.

He was active in First Presbyterian Church as a Sunday school teacher, deacon and elder, as well as trustee and moderator of the Golden Memorial Fund from its inception until his death.

He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Waco Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Waco Business League and a director and building committee chairman of Ridgewood Country Club in Waco.

In 1950, the Kiwanis Club started Little League Baseball in Waco and Mac agreed to be chairman of the project to build Lake Air Little League Park. The park became a true community effort and youth program for all. The Lake Air League set the example as it was the first league in the country where all players played in every game with rules of conduct for both players and parents.

Mac continued as chairman of the operating board and area commissioner for Little League until a cancer operation in 1971 limited his physical abilities, but never his concern or interest in what was good for Waco.

A leader in city affairs, Mac was active in the United Way, Hillcrest and Providence Hospital capital campaigns, the Baylor Waco Foundation and served as vice chairman of the Baylor Stadium Corp., as well as the Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society and as chair of the March of Dimes.

He served the city of Waco in numerous ways as chairman of each of the Planning and Zoning commissions, Parks and Recreation Commission and was also chair of the committee that was responsible for the planning and construction of the Waco Convention Center. He later served for a number of years as chairman of the Convention Center Board.

He was elected to the Waco City Council in 1966 and again in 1968 and became mayor in 1968. In that same year, Waco was named a model city by the federal government because of the new convention center, downtown mall, low water dam, police and courts building and numerous other facilities that benefited Central Texas. Honored by the citizens of Waco and the Texas Legislature, Mac was recognized with the "Malcolm Louden Day" on April 7, 1970.

Mac was most appreciative of his family, church, Owens-Illinois, city personnel and fellow council members and the devoted people who were so involved in youth activities, all making Waco a better place to live.

Mac and Olive were blessed in their later years to have the help and loving care of Agnes Decker, Dorothy Williams, Carolyn Hopkins, Willene Ferguson, Darlene Jones, Rosie Pevia, Martha Gerath, Manuel Garcia and Hillcrest Hospice. The family would like to express sincere appreciation to these wonderful caregivers for all the love and attention they gave to Momo and Poppie.

Mac was preceded in death by his wonderful and beloved wife, Olive; two sons, James Keith Louden II and John G. Louden; one grandson, John G. Louden Jr.; parents; and two brothers, James Keith Louden and George Donald Louden.

Survivors: His son, G. Malcolm Louden, wife, Ann, and their daughter, Carey, and Malcolm's sons, Malcolm Jr. and Taylor, all of Fort Worth; his deceased son John's children, Dr. Keith W. Louden, wife, Dina, and children, Sydney, Kyle and Ryan, all of Granbury, Brian J. Louden and daughter, Lauren, of San Antonio and Elizabeth D. Louden of Fort Worth; and the special families of John and Carol Jansen of San Antonio and Barbara Meadows and her late husband, Bill, of Waco.