Services for Dayle McGaha

Dayle McGaha, former publisher of the Blackwell Journal-Tribune, died February 27, 2023. He was 88.

A celebration of life will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, at the Blackwell First Church of the Nazarene, 218 S. A St. A graveside service, with military honors, will follow at Blackwell Cemetery.

McGaha was born Dec. 22, 1934, near Tonkawa. He graduated from Blackwell High School in 1953, and attended Tulsa University for two years. When he moved back to Blackwell, he was named the Journal-Tribune’s advertising manager.

He worked in that position until 1957, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the military until 1959, then returned to Blackwell and went back to work for the newspaper. He married his wife, Janie, in 1962. The McGahas moved to McAlester, where Dayle worked at the McAlester News-Capital, then returned to Blackwell in 1967. 

McGaha served as the paper’s advertising manager until 1980 when he was promoted to general manager and, shortly after, publisher. He remained in that position until his retirement in 2000, spending 43 years with the Blackwell Journal-Tribune.

McGaha is survived by his wife, Janie; two sons, Gavin Dayle of Owasso and Bryan Walter of Edmond; a brother, Delbert McGaha, of Owasso; and five grandchildren.