Our Town North Platte: McGahan's Give Back

By: Lance Schwartz - Email

Updated: Tue 8:28 AM, Dec 04, 2012

This edition of Our Town North Platte focuses on a very giving couple that has spent nearly a half a century doing whatever they can to make North Platte a great place to live.

In every great city, you're sure to find great leaders.

And since the mid-1960's Bill and Marilyn McGahan have been great leaders in North Platte.

Last year, they both decided to leave the education business, and in one fail swoop took with them more than 90 years of experience.

Fortunately, they're still putting that experience to good use.

Bill McGahan is a doer....even in retirement. Whether it's playing the piano, gardening or archiving his vast array of photographs.

Bill graduated from St. Pats Catholic High School in 1960 and then came back to teach in 1966, "We were pretty tickled to come back to North Plattte and it just kind of grew from there and we grew to love the town and love the work and so we stayed."

From teacher to superintendent, Bill has put his heart and soul into St. Pats for 45 years, "It has been great to be able to do that. It has been a very special part of our lives."

Like Bill, Marilyn also started her teaching career at St. Pats, and like Bill, she is a very driven person and she's always stayed very busy. Marilyn recalls the early days in North Platte, "I'm teaching full time, both of us working, we have 5 little kids and I earned my masters degree."

She went on to spend 40 years at Mid-Plains Community College.

The McGanan's have enjoyed living in Our Town North Platte. Bill says, "It's a safe place to live for the most part and the people are friendly and there are plenty of things to get involved in."

Here's yet another reason for the McGanan's to stay busy.

Just a month ago, they welcomed their 15th grandchild into the family.

The honors continue to roll in for the McGanan's.

As they were retiring last year, Bill & M

The Cody Scout Award in North Platte and the Governor's Admiral Award from the State of Nebraska.

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