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Photo journalist Ron McKeown’s Celebration of Life Event in Dallas on December 1, 2024, Obituary
SUMMARY: North Texas music media veteran Ron McKeown passed away in early September, and his memorial will be held on December 1, 2024 at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas. A gallery exhibit of his work will be on display, and attendees can pick up a free special 16-page page print edition of Buddy Magazine (link to full issue below). The issue is focused on Ron and his life’s work as a professional photojournalist and publisher, covering the North Texas music and culture beat for over 50 years. There will also be musical performances by The Michael O’Neal Band, Tutu Jones, Jimmy Wallace, Rocky Athas, and Maylee Thomas-Fuller.
To media outlets – please contact us to discuss using selected historic Texas music images to accompany your coverage of this release. More info below.
DALLAS, TX—A public memorial celebrating the life of photojournalist and longtime Buddy Magazine Publisher Ron McKeown will be held Sunday, December 1st, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas. Several musical guests will perform. The event is free, but donations will be accepted to cover costs.
Ron McKeown – Vietnam veteran and Bronze Star recipient, professional photojournalist, Buddy Magazine founding photographer, publisher, and publisher emeritus – passed away September 5, 2024, at his home in Sulphur Springs, Texas, due to natural causes.
Born in Dallas on July 31, 1946, he was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Beddo McKeown, and parents, Arvil McKeown and Verna Houston McKeown. He is survived by cousins Gatha Murphy and Mike Owens and many friends.
After basic training, Ron was assigned as a writer and photographer for military publications at Fort Bliss. By the spring of 1970, he was a soldier in the Vietnam combat zone, photographing and writing on the ground war. Ron received the Bronze Star medal for Meritorious Service in a Combat Zone.
After Ron returned from Vietnam in 1971, he moved to Ardmore, Okla., as an area feature writer with the Daily Ardmoreite. Later that year, he returned to Dallas to edit the Lone Star Gas Company publication ‘‘Blue Blaze.’’
In February 1972, he left Dallas again to travel in Europe as a freelance writer and photographer. Five months later, he was back in Dallas as a photographer and lab assistant with Bill Winfrey Photography. He later started working for Belo Corp as chief editor of the intercompany periodical, Intercom, which also served employees at WFAA, The Dallas Morning News, The Garland Daily News, and other regional subsidiaries.
Ron was a founding staff member of Buddy Magazine, established in 1973 by Stoney Burns. His photos appear on countless covers, and he documented the story of Texas music for five decades. In 1989, when Stoney was ready to step away as publisher, Ron took over the reins. He continued to publish every month until March 2020, when the pandemic began, effectively ending his tenure as publisher.
In the past four years, Ron has served as Buddy’s Publisher Emeritus. He has offered advice to his successor, his extensive collection of original photographs, and access to a very full contact list.
A collection of his best works is on display at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, a testament to his photography skills. Ron’s work will continue to grace the pages and cover of Buddy Magazine. Many of his photographs will be on display at the memorial, alongside many back issues of Buddy.
Artists performing at the memorial will be The Michael O’Neal Band, Rocky Athas, Jimmy Wallace, Maylee Thomas-Fuller, and Tutu Jones.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/events/1048523290105505/ and www.buddymagazine.com
Download a PDF file of the full 16-page Ron McKeown memorial issue here:
https://buddymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Buddy_1224-Ron-McKeown-web.pdf
For limited license and usage of Ron McKeown’s historic North Texas music images to accompany your coverage of the release, contact us and we’ll set you up with some great photos to go along with it.
Direct all questions and comments to current Buddy Magazine Publisher Rob Garner, at 469-347-4090 or email editor@buddymagazine.com.
