Between 1973 and 1987, The Georgia Bulletin ran editorial articles and cartoons by frequent contributor Dave McGill. Born in Slidell, Louisiana, in 1939, McGill came to Atlanta in 1966 to teach engineering at Georgia Tech and was a parishioner at Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

He was inspired to submit cartoons to The Georgia Bulletin after a homily from Father James Sexstone challenged the congregation to “put their talents to use to help serve the Lord.” McGill had previously been a cartoonist at LSU and was looking for a new outlet, so he offered his services to the paper. His first cartoon was published in the archdiocesan newspaper on Jan. 4, 1973. 

The unpublished cartoon by Dave McGill depicting himself, with friend and fellow Jerry Nix, left.

Over the years, his work took the form of written editorials, often (but not always) accompanied by a cartoon. Topics of his articles and cartoons often touched on serious issues like war, abortion and the energy crisis. But his articles also increasingly took a more personal point of view, offering his thoughts on aging, parenthood and his love of sports. 

These were the themes on display in his piece published in the Sept. 13, 1979 issue. McGill describes helping coach his oldest daughter in soccer. He was inexperienced at the sport and relied heavily on the expertise of the team’s other coach, Jerry Nix. Over time, McGill and Nix became friends, and the two cherished the opportunity to watch their kids grow together over the three years as their coaches. 

McGill goes on to talk about how he stopped coaching with Nix when he started coaching his younger daughter’s soccer team. While he missed coaching with his friend, he was excited for this next experience. But a knee injury and subsequent surgery meant he’d be on crutches for six weeks just when the season was starting. Devastated that he might not be able to coach, McGill called Jerry Nix and asked for his help for the first three weeks so he could keep the team. Nix enthusiastically agreed to come on board for the whole season, and the two friends would coach together once again. McGill hung up the phone with tears in his eyes. 

McGill offered a cartoon to accompany the piece, on which he wrote to editor Father Noel Burtenshaw and associate editor Michael Motes: “Fr. B & Mike, This article is a bit long. If necessary, leave off the cartoon, but do not cut the article. I’d rather save it ‘til there’s room for all of the text.” 

The cartoon was cut and remained unpublished…until now.