It's not on the Web yet, but I was watching Channel 8 News tonight when they announced that former Dallas city manager W. Scott McDonald died Sunday at age 98. McDonald, who lived on Desco Drive, in the same home since 1950, near Walnut Hill and Hillcrest, was electrocuted.
The storm that went through Sunday afternoon knocked down electrical lines in the alley behind McDonald's house. A neighbor said she saw McDonald head to the alley to investigate. Apparently McDonald picked up a live 7600-volt line and was killed instantly.
McDonald, an engineer, was city manager from 1966 to 1972, and was involved in the construction of I.M. Pei's Dallas City Hall, the Convention Center, DFW Airport, and several major highways in Dallas.
I hadn't heard or seen much about McDonald since he retired as city manager, and I was saddened to hear about his death. His relatives (his grandson was interviewed on Channel 8) were said to be comforted by the fact that he was killed instantly, and didn't suffer.