Andrew Haliday McCutcheon Jr.

  General Notes:

Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Name: Andrew H Mccutcheon J
Born: 12 May 1927
Died: 12 Feb 2012
State (Year) SSN issued: West Virginia (Before 1951)


From http://www.lva.virginia.gov/news/newsletter

Former Library Board Member Andy McCutcheon Dies at 84

"A true gentleman." That's the phrase that comes to mind when thinking of Andy McCutcheon, along with "gifted writer"; "devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend"; "accomplished public relations executive"; "raconteur of great political and sports stories"; and "public servant."

Andrew H. McCutcheon Jr. died of cancer on February 12 surrounded by Charlotte McCutcheon, his wife of 60 years; his daughter and her husband; his granddaughters; and his sister. He was 84.

McCutcheon became a member of the Library of Virginia family when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the Library Board by Governor Doug Wilder in 1989, and was reappointed for a full five-year term in 1992. He served two terms as chair of the Library Board, guiding the Library through a period of budget cuts and the planning for and opening of the new Library of Virginia building at 800 East Broad Street. He played an instrumental role on the Library Building Committee and the Dedication Committee for the new Library of Virginia facility. He understood the awesome responsibility the Library had to hold in trust for the people of Virginia: its irreplaceable and priceless historic collections. In one of his last communications as chair of the Library Board he urged Governor Allen "to consider carefully what the Commonwealth and its history mean and to provide the funding necessary for the Library to continue its role as the State's preeminent library and archives."

After his tenure on the Library Board he continued to serve the Library as a member of the Library of Virginia Foundation from 1997 to 2007. His thoughtful leadership on both boards resulted in greater visibility and increased support for the Library.

"Andy McCutcheon was one of the dearest people and most conscientious of board members I have ever known. Always upbeat and positive, with an infectious twinkle in his eye, Andy gave his all to anything he undertook. He loved the Library, its people, and its collections, and we were the better for his experienced perspective and advice. We will miss him terribly and extend our sympathy and love to his wife, Charlotte, and his devoted family," said Librarian of Virginian Sandra G. Treadway.

After graduating from Washington and Lee University, McCutcheon began a career as a sports writer for the Richmond News Leader. He served as executive assistant to U.S. Representatives J. Vaughan Gary and David E. Satterfield, served as a special assistant for Sargent Shriver at the Office of Economic Opportunity, and in 1968 he ran for Congress, losing to incumbent William L. Scott. He served 24 years in various capacities with Reynolds Metals Company. In 1969 he took a year off from Reynolds to run J. Sargeant Reynolds Sr.'s successful campaign for lieutenant governor. McCutcheon later co-wrote Sarge Reynolds: In the Time of His Life, about the charismatic young politician who died of an inoperable brain tumor at 34.

McCutcheon was a longtime member and chairman of the Metropolitan YMCA Board, active with the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, a supporter of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, a trustee of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, chairman of the Richmond Forum, and a member of the Richmond Urban League.



Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
RANDY HALLMAN, Richmond Times-Dispatch
A. H. McCutcheon Jr., a former sports writer, dies
You could talk to Andy McCutcheon for hours, and you would know he was a gracious, engaging fellow. You would know he was a great listener with a gentle sense of humor. You would know why people were drawn to be his friend.
But there's a good chance you would not know he had helped engineer another Virginian's meteoric political career, earned national acclaim as a sports writer, been the communications bedrock for a major corporation and played football for a team that went to the Rose Bowl.
That's how modest he was.
Andrew Haliday McCutcheon Jr. died of cancer Sunday at the Hermitage at Cedarfield, his home in western Henrico County. He was 84.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at 1101 Forest Ave., where he was a trustee.
"Andy was one of the easiest people in the world to be with," said Charlotte Daughtrey Andrews McCutcheon, his wife of 60 years. "He was one of the good guys."
A West Virginia native, Mr. McCutcheon was a lineman for the University of Tennessee team that lost 25-0 to the University of Southern California in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1945. Later he would point out with typical modesty that he was a third-stringer and had a hurt foot, so he didn't see any action in the bowl game.
After service in the Navy stateside in the last days of World War II, he finished his college education at Washington and Lee University, and in 1949 went to work for The Richmond News Leader. Jennings Culley, who would later become The News Leader's sports editor, recalled working alongside Mr. McCutcheon, one of three sports reporters on the staff.
"He was a great guy, well-liked by everybody," Culley said. "And he was an excellent writer. I used to tell him that if he had stayed at the paper, he would have been sports editor and I wouldn't have had to do all that work."
Mr. McCutcheon's beats included University of Richmond sports and Richmond's AAA baseball franchise. Both beats produced stories that were included in books that collected the year's best newspaper and magazine sports writing.
The 1956 book included a story about "Hot Rod" Hundley, flamboyant basketball star for Richmond foe West Virginia University. The 1961 collection included Mr. McCutcheon's poignant look at the plight of Cuban AAA players whose team, the Sugar Kings, had been uprooted from Havana and moved to New Jersey \emdash the result of political unrest after Fidel Castro came to power.
Mr. McCutcheon gave up his glittering newspaper career to pursue another abiding interest, politics. After serving as executive assistant to two congressmen, he was special assistant for Sargent Shriver at the Office of Economic Opportunity when it was creating vital jobs programs.
Then he gave up his job and ran for a seat in Congress himself, trying to upend Republican incumbent William L. Scott in the sprawling 8th District.
Drafted to run, Mr. McCutcheon depleted his family savings to take on his better-funded opponent. "We decided we would do that, but we wouldn't mortgage the house," said Mrs. McCutcheon.
The all-volunteer campaign was a family endeavor. The couple's daughter, Sallie, who was 11, would wear a blue dress with a green-ribbon "M" sewn on as one of the "McCutcheon Girls."
Mr. McCutcheon was beaten soundly. "We knew it was coming," said his wife, "but it was a great experience. Andy said it was as good as getting a Ph.D."
Their daughter, Sallie M. Johnston of Henrico, now a special-education teacher at J.R. Tucker High School, took the loss hard. When the returns came in, she left the election-night gathering for a while. "I walked around the parking lot crying," she recalled. "I couldn't believe for a single moment that my dad wouldn't be elected."
Johnston's own husband died at age 44 when her two daughters were 12 and 15. "Dad just stepped in for them \endash he was the greatest granddad," she said, tears welling in her eyes.
She said Mr. McCutcheon was proud that both granddaughters had also become special-education teachers.
After his run for Congress, Mr. McCutcheon went to work for Reynolds Metals Co., where he was a marketing and recycling officer and headed government-relations departments. Long before he retired as vice president in 1992, he became the company's font of family and corporate knowledge.
"He knew everything about the history of Reynolds Metals and the Reynolds family," said Randy Reynolds Sr., who was vice chairman of the company before Alcoa bought it, and is now one of the owners of Reynolds Development.
"I once gave a speech at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College," he said, "and Andy brought me up to speed. He knew things I didn't know."
Likewise, J. Sargeant Reynolds Jr. recalled giving a speech about his father "and Andy wrote it. He was like a member of the family."
In 1969, Mr. McCutcheon took a year away from his Reynolds Metals corporate career to serve as campaign manager for J. Sargeant Reynolds Sr.'s successful run for lieutenant governor of Virginia. After his victory, Reynolds was widely regarded as the "golden boy" of the Democratic Party, but he died of a brain tumor in 1971, only 34.
Mr. McCutcheon co-wrote a book about his boss's brief, brilliant career, "Sarge Reynolds in the Time of His Life."
In retirement, Mr. McCutcheon never stopped serving. He had been president of the Metro Richmond YMCA. He maintained an active interest in politics. In addition to his work at St. Matthew's Episcopal, at the time of his death he was on the boards of the Library of Virginia and of the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Foundation. He was on the screening committee of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and had remained active in Washington and Lee alumni affairs.
In addition to his wife, daughter and two granddaughters, Mr. McCutcheon's survivors include a sister, Judy M. Smith of Richmond. His brother, Joe McCutcheon, died eight years ago.

Andrew married Charlotte Daughtrey Andrews, daughter of Charlie Daughtrey Andrews and Sarah Quentin Alphin, on 26 Jan 1952 in Suffolk, (Nansemond Co.), VA. (Charlotte Daughtrey Andrews was born on 11 Oct 1926 in Suffolk City, [Nansemond Co., ] VA and died after 2012 in Henrico Co., VA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Virginia, Marriage Records, 1936-2014
Name: Charlotte Daughtrey Andrews (divorced - marriage once before)
Residence: 814 Riverview Dr., Suffolk, VA
Occupation: Ticket Agent, Eastern Airlines
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 25
Birth Date: abt 1927
Marriage Date: 26 Jan 1952
Marriage Place: Suffolk, Virginia, USA
Registration Place: Suffolk, Virginia, USA
Father: Charles Daughtrey Andrews
Mother: Sadie Alphin
Spouse: Andrew Haliday McCutcheon (single - 1st marriage)
Residence: 2707 Chamberlayne Ave., Richmond, VA
Occupation: Reporter, Richmond Newspapers
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Race: White
Spouse Age: 24
Birth Date:abt 1928 at Webster Springs, West Virginia
Spouse Father: Andrew Haliday McCutcheon
Spouse Mother: Elsie Hamrick