Charles Edward Mooney

But let's start with "BC" because "After Claudia", the focus of his life was Claudia, his children, and his devout faith.

Charles was born on February 8, 1951. He attended Mcgregor schools and graduated with the MHS Class of 1969. While in high school he took part in all sports and played trombone in the Bulldog Band, using the same silver trombone his dad had used from his days in high school and college bands. After Charles' graduation from MHS, he attended McLennan Community College and received his Associates Degree. He then attended Sam Houston State University and earned his Bachelor's degree in journalism in 1973. Following graduation from Sam Houston, he returned to McGregor to work beside his parents at The McGregor Mirror. In 1992, following his father's retirement, Charles took over as editor of The Mirror. Charles started working at The Mirror during his freshman year in high school and summers during his college years. He received the prestigious Golden 50 Year Award from Texas Press Association in June of 2017. His grandfather, the late Chas. B. Hall, was one of the first recipients to ever earn this award. Charles was an award winning photographer with both Texas Press Association and North East Texas Press Association. He loved chronicling the achievements of McGregor and Crawford students and the day-to-day events in The Mirror's MOC community through both words and pictures. When he returned to McGregor in 1973, Charles became a member of the McGregor Rotary Club and continued his membership until his untimely death. He served as president and in other capacities over the years. He and Danny Davis were the pancake batter men for most of his years in Rotary. Charles served on the Board of Directors for many years at TFNB- Your Bank For Life. He also served on various community boards during his years in the business community.

From a young age, Charles had a love of nature. His favorite places to be were at the farm fishing and exploring. His great uncle, Elbert Thomason, a long- time McGregor Jeweler and collector of Indian artifacts, helped foster this passion. He later took up deer hunting and he loved the years of friendship with fellow hunters sharing the lease, which he wrote about in several outdoor columns over the years. He was also a charter member of the McGregor Bass Club and served as treasurer for the Bulldog Athletic Booster Club for many years during the 1970s and 80s. Golfing was also one of Charles' favorite hobbies. He and his dad took up the sport together in the late 1960s. In the last several years he would joke that he was only a tournament player because he only played once a year in the Bulldog Golf Tournament.

Now for his best years....

Charles would say his life began when he met Claudia Ringler soon after she arrived as an au pair for the Mike Beard family. For him, it was love at first sight. They married after a short courtship on June 27, 1987 at the First United Methodist Church. Since that time his focus became less on work, hunting, fishing, and golfing to family life. Charles and Claudia were blessed with seven children over their 34 year marriage, and six grandchildren and a seventh on the way at the time. He had a special bond with each of them. When he started hunting with his son Michael, deer hunting again became a special part of his fall and winter. He and Michael enjoyed hunting together during both bow and regular hunting season. Not many years after their marriage, Charles joined Claudia and children as members of St. Eugene Catholic Church. He was involved in all church events. He was a proud member of the Brothers of St. Eugene, Secretary of the Finance Council, a Cursillista and St. Eugene's journalism specialist handling all upcoming Festival news.