Former CDT sports editor, writer Doug McDonald dies at the age of 91 in Centre County
Former Centre Daily Times sports editor/writer Doug McDonald, who worked at the newspaper for 37 years, has died. He was 91 years old.
McDonald died in Boalsburg on Saturday morning but spent much of his life in State College, where he earned a reputation as a trusted journalist who for decades shared stories on local high school and college student-athletes.
He was among the 13 members in the inaugural class of the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame in 2017, and he picked up countless honors and awards throughout his career. Among the highlights were enshrinement into both the National Wresting Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, the Fran Fisher Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism and an award as the National Wrestling Media Association Print Journalist of the Year.
Although wrestling was what he was best known for, McDonald wore many hats and never discriminated. He served as president of the National College Basketball Writers Association in 1976-1977 and as a national elector for the 1981 Heisman Trophy. He also received numerous plaques and certificates from various groups, such as recognition in 1995 from Bald Eagle Area’s booster club for “outstanding coverage and support” over the course of four decades.
Although McDonald was born in Scotland, he arrived in the U.S. as an infant and still called Centre County home for most of his life. He graduated from West Reading High School in 1951 and then graduated from Penn State in 1958. He also served two years in the Army before being honorably discharged in 1955.
He is survived by his 101-year-old wife, Nora Jane McDonald.
A visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Thursday at Koch Funeral Home (2401 S. Atherton St.). And a Catholic service will take place 9 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Victory (820 Westerly Parkway).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to “Rise Above: Friends of Adaptive Athletics PSU,” an organization that helps athletes with physical disabilities, at riseaboveability.com/donate.
This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 8:35 PM.
