Melvin Schexnayder spent his lifetime dedicated to his family, his community and the newspaper business. After returning from World War II and completing a degree in Chemical Engineering, he went to work for Texas Pacific Railroad. However, the job forced him to travel frequently which kept him away from his wife. For the sake of spending more time together, the two decided to try their hand in the newspaper business. His wife Charlotte, a journalism major, served as the editor and Melvin served as the advertising manager. What they thought would be a one year experiment working at the McGehee Semi-Weekly Times, uncovered a passion for reporting news that turned into a life-long career path for both of them. After working at the Times, they bought their own newspaper, The Dumas Clarion, near Charlotte’s hometown of Tillar. With the Schexnayders working as a team, The Dumas Clarion won over 500 state and national awards for its excellence in journalism.

  If owning and publishing a weekly newspaper was not a big enough task, Melvin devoted his life selflessly to serve others for the sake of making Dumas and Desha County a better place to live and raise a family. He was an active participant in the community where he served as President of the Dumas Chamber of Commerce and the Dumas Lion’s Club, and just this year, he was awarded the esteemed Lion’s Club Citizenship Award. He held the post of Chairman of the Desha County Hospital Board and served as Chairman of the Chicot-Desha Boy Scout District. He also worked in numerous roles with the Red Cross and March of Dimes over the years.

  In addition to his civic leadership, Schexnayder was also a man of devout faith. He was a member of Holy Child Catholic Church where he served as a lay reader and building committee member.

  I give my deepest condolences to his wife, Charlotte; his two sons, M. John Schexnayder, Jr. and Dr. Stephen Schexnayder; his daughter Sarah Steen; and to his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Melvin Schexnayder will be greatly missed in Dumas, Desha County and throughout the state of Arkansas, and I am truly saddened by this loss.