Former Springfield mayor Mac McCartney dies at 99
Former Springfield Mayor N.L. “Mac” McCartney died Friday at the age of 99. He served on City Council from 1987 to 1993 and as mayor from 1993 to 1995.
According to a city press release, McCartney spent more than 50 years as a Springfield businessman and community volunteer.
“On top of all else, Mac was a kind and caring soft-spoken person. He served the community well throughout many decades as a volunteer and businessman. Our heart goes out to his family and we assure them he will be remembered for the positive impact he made on Springfield,” said Mayor Ken McClure in a statement.
As mayor, McCartney created Springfield Art Museum Day on Oct. 28, 1994, when dedicating the opening of the Jeannette L. Musgrave Wing of the museum.
McCartney served as president of the Southeast Rotary Club and district governor of Rotary International. He was chairman of the Board of Directors of ARC Foundation, City Utilities, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, Visiting Nurse Association and Foundation, and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation. He served as a board member of American Public Power Association, Missouri Municipal League, and Springfield Chamber of Commerce, among others.
Retiring from the U.S. Army in 1972 as a colonel, McCartney served in the military for 30 years. He was awarded Combat Infantry Badge with Star, two Legions of Merit, seven Bronze Star medals, three Purple Hearts, and the French and Greek Legions of Honor.
A memorial service will be held in Spring of 2023 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home followed by interment at Springfield National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “The McCartney Fund”, for cancer and heart research at the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
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Former councilman Jerry Slavens dies at 76
Former Springfield councilman Jerry Slavens at the age of 76 also died Friday — survived by his wife of over 50 years.
Slavens owned and operated Slavens Shoe Repair and Archery Shop in Springfield for many years. According to Slavens' obituary, he "enjoyed bow hunting, wood working, and being involved with archery." He was 1976 Bare Bow Missouri State Champion.
Slavens was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the United States Army.
Slavens served on Springfield's city council for eight years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In his time on council, Slavens was known for his combative relationship with City Manager Don Busch — leading an unsuccessful attempt to oust him from the job in 1983.
Slavens resigned from city council in 1984 after being convicted on federal obstruction of justice charges — for urging a salvage-yard owner to lie to a grand jury about a zoning case. Serving a two-year sentence, Slavens later told the News-Leader he used his time in prison to improve himself.
"If you try to have the right state of mind when you come in and decide to make the most of it, the opportunities are there," he told the News-Leader at the time.
Slavens' family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Greenlawn Funeral Home South. Graveside services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Former Springfield mayor Mac McCartney dies at 99
