Each day The Paper of Montgomery County profiles a person from our community. Each person is asked the same questions. If you'd like to nominate someone for a Community Profile, please let us know. You can e-mail us at news@thepaper24-7.com, call us at 361-0100 or send it to our offices in beautiful downtown Crawfordsville at 119 E. Main St.
Donna McGrady has been in and out of Indiana, but now lives in Waynetown because she said she desired to be close to her five sons and her 18 grandchildren.
A retired teacher and assistant superintendent, McGrady stays busy on the Waynetown Town Council, she is the president of the board for both the Montgomery County Historical Society and the crisis shelter in Crawfordsville. As a member of the Waynetown Town Council, she said she is excited to see downtown buildings being occupied and the addition of high-speed internet to the community and the beautification of the downtown area with pots for season friendly foliage. The youth center is opening and McGrady sees the community's top priority, the building of a library to house many activities. She is an avid antique glass collector.
If you could have dinner with any three people (living or dead), who would they be and why?
I would have dinner with Abraham Lincoln. I grew up near Springfield and have always been fascinated by his life. He was a great leader and visionary. Oprah Winfrey fascinates me. She does so many shows but still seems to really care and be interested in what people have to say. I admire her for raising money for the school for girls in Africa. All those girls want are uniforms to go to school is unlike girls in the United States who want iPods. Marie Clay is a person I would like to meet. She started the 'Reading Recovery' program that we use in this country.
When you're alone in the car, do you sing along with the radio?
Occasionally
If you could add one restaurant, one retail shop and one activity to our community, what would they be?
Cracker Barrel, an antique shop and a library in Waynetown so we can have activities for all ages
When we're kids we're asked what we want to be when we grow up. Are you doing what you thought you'd be doing?
Yes. I wanted to be a teacher.
What's the last book you read?
'Our Endangered Values' by Jimmy Carter. This book is about how we all are changing and don't have the good values anymore that are necessary.
Q
What's your favorite sound in the world and why?
It's probably the voices of my family when we are all together. It is so much fun to listen to them.
What's one thing you probably won't do before you die, but would like to?
Snow ski!
What have you seen in your lifetime?
Well I guess looking back, I went to a one-room school house and when we needed water we pumped it and brought it into the schoolhouse with buckets. Farming has gone from horses doing so much of the work to amazing equipment.
The interview was conducted by Denise Hinckley. Contact her at dhinckley@thepaper24-7.com
