Photojournalism legend had long ties to suburbs

A legend in the world of photojournalism who spent a portion of his career living in Arlington Heights, passed away earlier this month.

Angus "Mac" McDougall died Aug. 20 in Columbia, Mo., where he had lived since accepting the role as head of the photojournalism department at the University of Missouri's Journalism School, in the early 1970s. He was 92.

School officials credit Mr. McDougall with mentoring hundreds of photojournalists when he was head of the program 1972-1982, who went on to influence metropolitan newspapers around the country.

David Rees, the current photojournalism chair at the Missouri School of Journalism, said Mr. McDougall insisted his photo students become adept in all aspects of journalism, especially visual reporting, writing, design and management so they would have the credibility to cause change in newsroom thinking.

"Mac's emphasis on meaningful photography, in lock step with supportive words and presented with impact, is his legacy," Rees said.

Another legacy Mr. McDougall leaves is his groundbreaking book, "Visual Impact in Print," which he wrote while living in Arlington Heights.

"Even after more than 30 years it still is considered a primary reference work for picture editing and use," Rees added.

Both Mr. McDougall and his co-author, Gerald Hurley, worked for International Harvester at the time. Mr. McDougall was photographer and photo editor for the company magazine, "International Harvester World."

He moved to the Chicago area in the late 1950s after working as a staff photographer for the Milwaukee Journal, where he was named Magazine Photographer of the Year in 1955 by the National Press Photographers Association.

Tom Grieger, a retired Daily Herald photo editor, knew Mr. McDougall when he lived in Arlington Heights.

"He promoted realism, and getting away from set up shots," said Grieger, who served with Mr. McDougall in photojournalism associations in Chicago. "He knew you could make an impact with photos to attract people's attention, to read a story."

In all, Mr. McDougall wrote three books, including "A Photo Journal," which chronicled the standard of newspaper photography in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as his 2008 book, "Pacesetters in Journalism."

That same year, Mr. McDougall and his wife of 70 years, Betty, made a substantial gift to Missouri's Journalism School, that established the Angus and Betty McDougall Center for Photojournalism Studies.

Mr. McDougall was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, who passed away in February, as well as a daughter, Lorna. He is survived by his daughter, Bonnie (John) Latimer of Elgin and son, Angus (Kathleen); as well as four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Services were held privately.