James Dale McHard

James Dale McHard, age 78, of Oklahoma City, while struggling with chronic illness, died suddenly on January 8, 2012. Dale was born in Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma, on October 28, 1933, to Ruby Fern Thomas and William Carl McHard. Dale graduated from Blackwell High School in 1951. Dale received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma A&M in 1955 (now known as Oklahoma State University) in 1962 he earned his Master’s degree in Public Health in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Michigan. After completing his undergraduate education, Alcoa Inc., employed him to perform subterranean geographic surveying of southern Texas. Dale entered military service as a Lieutenant in the Army, with duty stations in the Ordinance Corp and the Corp of Engineers. Dale began his employment with the State of Oklahoma in1958, first with the State department of Health then later with the Department of Environmental Quality. Dale met his wife, Mary in 1950, where both attended an after hour department bowling league. Dale eventually attained the post of Director of Occupational and Radiological Health that he maintained for decades. During his tenure with the State, he helped to author the original Air Quality bill eventually signed into law. Dale and his staff relished their role as detectives when they had to recover lost radioactive sources. This activity earned Dale a commendation from the Governor. Dale would sometimes take his son with him on these jobs, an experience his son still remembers fondly. Dale was also active at the Federal level of radiation regulation, working to make Oklahoma a self regulated State in the area of radiation management. In 1979, the members of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors elected Dale as their Chairman; he continued to serve this organization until he retired. After receiving many other commendations and awards, Dale retired from the State in the summer of 2010, after 52 years of service. Through his life, Dale supported various Christian organizations in Oklahoma City. He was active in the Skyline Urban Ministries, which he supported through donations of time and money. Dale helped to found the Christopolitan Parish, a group that met regularly from the 1960’s until the mid 90’s. Dale also found time to become a Chaplain, and through his church, Church of the Servant, he ministered for over a decade to many families during their difficult times. Dale also enjoyed working with the Oklahoma Anthropological Society. One could find Dale eagerly playing in the dirt with his signature Tilley Duck hat; a hat that he purported would survive the ordeal of a trip through an elephant’s digestive system. Dale had developed a passion for uncovering relics and artifacts from Oklahoma’s past, to the point of becoming the President of OAS in 1999 and later the Dig Chairman, a post he held until 2009; and in 2006 received the prestigious Golden Trowel Award. He and Mary would drive their RV to the dig sites, sometimes accompanied by Dale Jr.’s children, where they would work shoulder to shoulder with archeologists and anthropologists in recovering and preserving the unique historical past Oklahoma enjoys. Dale married Mary Bush on August 20, 1961. His son Dale Jr., arrived a year later, followed by a daughter Janet three years later. Dale and Mary moved into a house in east Oklahoma City in 1962, later moving to the northwest side of town in 1967, ultimately the last move for Dale and Mary. During these years, Dale and his family had several pets. A dog named Skeeter, who fiercely defended the house, by way of destroying any mail that came through the mail slot. Squeaky an aloof cat, who would fondly bring in his trophies as proof of his worthiness, which Dale would have to remove personally, as Mary could only react by standing on a chair until removal of the offending trophy. In later years, a neighborhood cat Guthrie would enjoy the special attention Dale offered; by coming around looking for a specific cat food Dale adamantly demanded was necessary to buy. Dale had two passions in the sporting world; baseball and ice hockey that he shared with his kids. Dale would take the kids to the ballpark or the arena and share in the experience of watching sports. Dale Jr. became an ice hockey fan a very early age; his earliest memories dating back to when on a given night the beer cost only 25 cents. Today Dale Jr. continues to play ice hockey regularly. Janet meanwhile became a baseball fanatic, learning to score games and continues to enjoy watching her favorite hometown team, whose name surely made Dale laugh, the Isotopes. Surviving Dale are his wife of over 50 years, Mary McHard, and only sibling, Don McHard; his children Dale Jr., Janet, and their spouses; Dale Jr.’s children Elizabeth and William, Janet’s Godson Ridge and a special Godchild Meredith. Dale’s Memorial Service will occur on January 20, 2012, at 2pm at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City. Dale’s preference on flowers is to donate time or money to the Skyline Urban Ministries or to the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers. Dale had a special form of humor and laugh that we will miss particularly; we will miss his presence wholly. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Dale McHard please visit our Sympathy Store.