Page 22 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2025 - Online Magazine

LOCAL LEGENDS

Ann’s education also began in Lubbock schools. Following The McDonalds have been deeply involved in the arts
graduation, she attended Southern Methodist University and throughout their adult lives. Many of their contributions were
received a degree in journalism. Ann also served as editor of given anonymously, but their 2024 gift “of a sizable amount“ to
First Family, a magazine for the First National Bank of Dallas. create an endowment supporting the Texas Tech University Jazz
Program was openly celebrated.
She began her serious study of photography in 1981 and
sought out workshops and successful photographers, as she The Internet defines the term power couple as “a romantic
developed her own personal style. Ann studied with well- partnership in which both individuals are highly accomplished,
known photographers in California, New Mexico, Texas, and successful, and influential in their own right—and are also
Mexico. Craig and Ann once even shared a conversation with perceived as being stronger together than they are apart. The
Ansel Adams. Ann’s work has appeared in group shows and term originated in the 1980s and has since been applied to real-
solo exhibitions. life celebrity pairings and even to happy, productive couples in
everyday life.”
In the 1980s, Ann’s photographs began appearing on calendars,
note cards, and books available through the Pecan Press. Her Lubbock has been blessed to have their own power couple,
photo depicting Prayers on the Ganges won “Best of Show” Craig and Ann McDonald. Their lives have been models of
during the 2010 Lubbock Arts Festival. That work was also unwavering love for one another, exciting adventure, artistic
chosen for the 2013 Texas Photographic Society’s Show at Texas successes, community involvement, and selfless generosity.
A&M University-Corpus Christi.
In 2011, Ann became the first photographer to be named
“Featured Artist” for the Lubbock Art Festival. During that same
year, 20 of her photographs titled “Private Collections: A Look at
Lubbock Artists” were included in an exhibit at the Buddy Holly
Center Fine Arts Gallery.

Ann’s artistic interests and the couple’s love of travel led to
a month-long trek through Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar
(Burma), Singapore, and Australia in 2001. In 2006 Craig and
Ann toured seven Pacific Islands where historic World War II
battles had been fought. Ann later published a book containing
photos and written accounts of those sites.

Their wanderlust led Craig and Ann to enroll in flying lessons. JAZZY
Craig completed licensure as a Private Pilot in 1991, and Christmas
Ann became the navigator for adventures which followed. In
1997, the couple took a 42-day trip flying to multiple points the James & Bernice braxton music scholarship fund
December 2025
across a broad spectrum of Australia. Craig piloted and Ann Saturday Single - $90
photographed from land and air as she recorded facts and 6:00 pm Reception 13 Couples - $175
stories of that stark, but beautiful, continent. In June of 2015, 7:00 pm Concert Table - $700
Ann created a fascinating, full-color, 139-page book titled Over TTU Museum/
the Black Stump: Flying VFR Around Australia. That publication is Helen DeVitt Auditorium
now in its third printing. 3301 4th st.
Lubbock, TX
(806)535-2475

www.selectaseatlubbock.com
This program made possible in part through a grant from the City
22 Lubbock Senior Link of Lubbock, as recommended by Civic Lubbock, Inc..