Tribute to David McGinnis
The Camp Huawni Tribe celebrates the vibrant life of former counselor, director and parasailing legend extraordinaire, David McGinnis, 1951–2026.
Our hearts are heavy with this loss, and we remember what all campers learned from him: what life is really about, loyal friendship, faith in our Creator, fun in the sun (hot dog bun…), and making memories with your tribe.
We turn back to memories of hearing “David was a Baby Rabbit” at sing song (made at his request), and obviously many other happy moments of smiles, playing hard, Miss Pinson Creek, and services at the Little Red Church.
Thank you for helping raise all of us campers and for all the countless ways you poured into young people your entire life, always helping everyone else do better and feel better about themselves, with an open and honest soul.
Love & Inwauh from the Huawni Tribe.
Michael Anne Pritchard
On a summer afternoon in 1973 at Camp Huawni, the day was unfolding like any other. Activities were in full swing, and an activity group of girl campers were sunbathing at the swimming pool, watched over by their senior counselors. The air was warm, the water inviting, but the mood carried a trace of disappointment. Word had spread that one of their favorite boy counselors had left camp, and the girls couldn’t help but talk about it.
They laughed and splashed as usual, but the absence lingered.
Then, from across the soccer field, something caught their attention.
The old blue truck, known around camp as the “Blue Goose,” came rolling into view, driven by Pat Adams. On the wooden bed of the rickety old truck sat a large cardboard refrigerator box. It was an odd sight, enough to draw every set of eyes from the pool to the Blue Goose below.
Pat put on the brakes and screeched to a stop.
For a brief moment, time stood still.
Then suddenly, the box burst open and upward, like a cardboard explosion. Out sprang a bronzed, tan counselor, leaping into the sunlight like a triumphant runner crossing the finish line.
The girls erupted into screams, pure, unfiltered excitement. Almost in unison, the sunbathers shouted, “The sun is shining again at Camp Huawni!” Even the girl counselors couldn’t help but smile as they watched the hilarious scene unfold. The joy was contagious, the kind that ripples through a place and turns smiles into uncontrollable laughter.
The “Jack in the box” that day, David McGinnis, was literally a “bright light” wherever he went. That incident was typical of his personality. Later in life, as an NFL football coach, he could light up a locker room filled with pro athletes, a radio booth broadcasting to thousands, or a summer camp filled with excited campers.
David spent seventy-four gregarious years on this earth, growing up in Snyder, Texas, as a young boy and becoming the kind of personality people never forgot. On April 13, 2026, he stepped through the pearly gates, leaving behind a long trail of friendships that stretched farther than the winding Pinson Creek on its way to the Gulf. By his side, holding his hand, as his spirit left this earth were his sister, Nancy McGinnis Wilson, his brother, Kevin McGinnis, his niece and camp Mom, Rachel Rember, and his devoted friend, Fred Jackson. Lifelong friends and Huawni tribe members Gary and Susie Patterson, Angela Raines Jackson, Clay Wilder and Laci Laird were there in the final weeks, caring for and cherishing their last days with their beloved Coach Mac.
David’s life journey took him from Snyder, Texas, to TCU on a football scholarship. He arrived on campus as a slender young athlete and quickly proved himself, going on to start three years as a defensive back for the Horned Frogs.
During those college years, Assistant Coach Mike Adams found players summer jobs, bringing many of them out to East Texas to work at the Adams Family Youth Camp, Camp Huawni. In the summer of 1973, David showed up alongside teammates Gary Patterson, Gary Crawford, Tookie Berry, Fred Jackson, Chad Utley, and Gary Whitman. Among others, Clay Wilder and the young wrangler, Tooter Carroll, complemented the standout group. They were talented athletes, no doubt. But more than that, they became something far more important: counselors and role models for the young campers.
Remembrances of events from those times at camp are relived in the minds of David’s friends. The Miss Pinson Creek pageant, parasailing on land behind a jeep, riding a bicycle off a ramp straight into the snake pond, or making classic movies with Cecil B. DeMille directing.
A lifetime of stories were built at camp. Even years down the road, they’d still laugh about the things that happened during that time, little moments that didn’t seem like much at the time but somehow became unforgettable. There was an indescribable bond about being “in the Tribe.”
David had a genuine gift. He made every single person feel like they were his best friend. If you are one of those, take comfort: you are. And David, your best friend? Yes, count it a blessing, he was just that.
Looking back, it’s interesting how memory works. Sometimes it isn’t the full story that comes back. It’s just fragments. Names. Faces. A sense of being there. And somehow, those fragments blossom and being with David seems just like yesterday.
David’s life journey took him from Snyder, Texas, to TCU on a football scholarship. He arrived on campus as a slender young athlete and quickly proved himself, going on to start three years as a defensive back for the Horned Frogs.
During those college years, Assistant Coach Mike Adams found players summer jobs, bringing many of them out to East Texas to work at the Adams Family Youth Camp, Camp Huawni. In the summer of 1973, David showed up alongside teammates Gary Patterson, Gary Crawford, Tookie Berry, Fred Jackson, Chad Utley, and Gary Whitman. Among others, Clay Wilder and the young wrangler, Tooter Carroll, complemented the standout group. They were talented athletes, no doubt. But more than that, they became something far more important: counselors and role models for the young campers.
Remembrances of events from those times at camp are relived in the minds of David’s friends. The Miss Pinson Creek pageant, parasailing on land behind a jeep, riding a bicycle off a ramp straight into the snake pond, or making classic movies with Cecil B. DeMille directing.
A lifetime of stories were built at camp. Even years down the road, they’d still laugh about the things that happened during that time, little moments that didn’t seem like much at the time but somehow became unforgettable. There was an indescribable bond about being “in the Tribe.”
David had a genuine gift. He made every single person feel like they were his best friend. If you are one of those, take comfort: you are. And David, your best friend? Yes, count it a blessing, he was just that.
Looking back, it’s interesting how memory works. Sometimes it isn’t the full story that comes back. It’s just fragments. Names. Faces. A sense of being there. And somehow, those fragments blossom and being with David seems just like yesterday.
Remembering David
Laci Laird, Huawni Camper & Counselor 1973–1988
“53 years ago, my parents took me to Camp Huawni for the first time. I was 8 years old. I was not a good swimmer (I was a ‘Rock’ as David used to say during our late-night drafts when choosing campers for competition). Mike and Pat told Mom to talk with David, who was a counselor and lifeguard. David assured Mom and Dad that he would take care of me and help me with my swimming skills. That was the beginning of a bond between me and David that would endure for the rest of our lives.
I have so many great memories of David over these many years but if I had to pick one it would be when Fred and others came up with the idea of taking David up in the parasail (which was pulled by a jeep in the pasture) with the goal of landing him in the swimming pool. Instead of a smooth landing in the pool, David hit the diving board, getting the breath knocked out of him. He still celebrated it as a win as all of us watched and cheered.”
T. Carroll, Huawni Camper 1969–1973; Wrangler and Counselor 1973–1982
“I started working at Camp Huawni in the summer of 1973 when I was 15 years old. At that time the guy counselors stayed in the ‘bunkhouse’ next to the horse corral which was located in the area of the current dining hall. The guy counselors that summer included David McGinnis, Gary Crawford, Chad Utley, Fred Jackson and Gary Patterson. They all played football at TCU and immediately became my Heroes.
I hung on to every word, all the stories and how they carried themselves. I was also introduced to David McGinnis’ dynamic personality, and I knew he was just different and very special. I also learned very quick, that when you entered David’s orbit, you were always in David’s orbit.
Later on in life, I was living and working in Dallas in the mid 80’s and at that time, I drove a two seat Camero convertible. One day after work I let the top down on my car and was driving back to Dallas from the Mid-Cities on Hwy 183. Cruising around 70 I noticed a car was tracking me on my left side, I looked over and it was David. He threw his hands in the air and gave me that goofy grin and I gave him the ‘call me’ sign and drove home. Later in the evening he called, and we went to dinner. The coaching staff at Kansas State had been fired, and he was in the DFW area working his contacts. He indicated that Weber State in Utah had contacted him, but he didn’t seem to have much interest. We had a great conversation, and after dinner we hugged. I wished him the best but in the back of my mind, I knew he would end up in the right place. Later on, I learned that through David’s relationship with Vince Tobin, he received a call from Mike Ditka with the Chicago Bears. As we all know that led to his extremely successful NFL coaching career. I will truly miss him.
PS Brilliant Camp Moments:
On the inaugural Parasail Flight, David was driving the jeep, I was in the passenger seat and Pat was strapped in the parasail. Everything went great until we reached the end of the pasture. David pulled up to the fence, turned off the motor and said ‘Oh Well’ while Pat hit the ground behind us.
Battle at wire gap
The summer it rained so much, we took the girl campers to Pinson Creek and let them float the creek.
Jumping the new camp bikes into the pond off the ping pong table ramp, with Mr. Earl carefully watching.
Supper Stud & Cry Babby
One day Gary Patterson and I couldn’t get the tractor to start, David stopped by and asked if we checked the diesel.”
Linda Adams, Huawni Lifer since 1969
“I think of David’s ‘infectious laugh’ as a ‘special part of our heart’ that he shared with our family and camp family. That laugh kept us all uplifted many times during the fast pace of camp life. I remember the late afternoon when our young and adventurous daughter, Dana, and her cousin Travis decided to get out on the slippery roof above the two-story porch to get a better view of activities. Well, of course, Dana slid off! She was fine but Travis ran in and told David, ‘Dana fell off da woof!’ From that day forward, David’s way of turning his amazing laughter into a lasting memory of an event that when repeated by David and others brought back camp memories of the moment and much laughter by all. David had a ‘knack’ of quoting something in such a way to bring laughter from all remembering that moment in time. We love you, David, and know that Heaven now has someone who has the ability to bring JOY to all! With David around everything can’t be ‘ALL serious business!’”
Pat Adams, Huawni Lifer since 1965
“The first time I met David was when he came from TCU to work at camp. We needed counselors and Mike recruited some of his football players to come help. I remember David saying ‘If I have to wear a shirt, I’m out of there!’ Well, he ended up staying not only that summer, but continued coming each summer for the next 8 or 9 summers. He loved Camp Huawni, and Camp Huawni loved him. He was the idol of camp.
When I met David the first time, I fell in love with him, like everyone else. We did so many things together, we formed a bond that lasted all our lives. Even though he has passed away, the bond we had with each other will never pass away. He taught me so much about life and how to get along with people just by watching his every move. Things like, why argue with people over anything, because in the end it doesn’t matter who is right or who is wrong, because you’ll still have your opinion.
One story I very well remember was the time we were getting camp ready for Opening Day. We had worked our tail ends off, it was hot, and we had worked hard all day. We, being David, Gary, Fred, Tooter, Chad and some others, finally came in from the hot sun to eat dinner. We were hot, thirsty, tired and hungry. I remember we sat down at the table, and my mother (Retha Adams) gave us a plate with one, only one corn dog on it. Of course we were all very hungry and started eating right away, devouring the corn dog in no time. That is, all of us but David. David stared and looked down at his corn dog for a minute or two, and finally told Gary or Fred, ‘Hey Gary, do you want my corn dog? I just don’t think I can eat it all!’ Of course everyone knew what he was talking about; he was starving, and all he was given was one corn dog. Such a Huawni memory that will never be forgotten.
Another time we were learning to do a gainer off the diving board. As luck would have it, when I hit the water, I busted my eardrum. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I couldn’t hear very well on that side, so David told me I probably just have water in my ear and he could fix it, he’d put some alcohol mix in it and it’d be okay. I turned my head to the left and he put the drops of alcohol in my right ear. When the alcohol hit that raw eardrum, it started burning like the worst burn I ever felt. I started running up Flagpole Hill, with my hands cupped to try to blow air in my ear to cool it down. Well, all McGinnis would do was laugh, and he couldn’t quit laughing! He thought that was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. He was like that, laughing all the time at everything. That’s why I loved him so much.
There are many more stories I could tell, but I’ll just leave them to my memory. No doubt, David McGinnis will be missed, but his legacy and the memories of my best friend and other brother will last forever. Love you, David McGinnis and I’ll be sure to see you once again.”
