Nobles Jr., Douglas Randolph "Randy"   	

MOUNT PLEASANT - Douglas Randolph "Randy" Nobles Jr., 57, died Friday, September 7, 2007, 
in Mount Pleasant, after living for more than two years with cancer.

Mr. Nobles was born November 24, 1949, in Marshall. He spent his childhood in Daingerfield, 
before moving to Washington, D.C. with his family at the age of 15.

Mr. Nobles spent his teenaged and professional years in public service. In high school, he 
worked as an intern in the offices of Congressmen Jake Pickle and Wright Patman and also at 
the U.S. Department of the Interior. During his 1967-1968 senior year, he was elected through 
his statewide student government organization to serve as youth governor of Virginia.

After graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VTech) in 1972 with a bachelor's degree 
in public administration, Mr. Nobles worked first as a VISTA volunteer in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 
and then as a planner for the Eastern Oklahoma Development District (EODD). He later served 
as the agency's director. At EODD, Mr. Nobles coordinated local, state and federal 
partnerships to bring services and grants to eastern Oklahoma communities and tribal nations. 
His work for EODD improved the lives of the agency's constituents through the development of 
community action groups and such services as the first-time installation of water and sewer 
systems.

Following his work for EODD, Mr. Nobles worked on the staff of Congressman Mike Synar as a 
field representative, listening to and working to meet the needs of Representative Synar's 
constituents, before returning to VTech to earn his master's degree in public administration.

Mr. Nobles returned to his native East Texas in the late 1980s, where he served first as 
director of Daingerfield's Main Street program and later in various capacities at Northeast 
Texas Community College (NTCC). At NTCC, he helped to establish the college's truck-driving 
school and its JTPA job-training program. He left NTCC to join the small team that worked to 
establish Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Marshall and then served in administrative 
roles at the college for several years.

After leaving TSTC, Mr. Nobles worked first as a staff member in Representative Max Sandlin's 
first campaign for Congress and then returned to NTCC in 1996 to direct the college's truck 
-driving school and teach political science classes an an adjunct faculty member. He became a 
full-time faculty member in political science in 2000 and served in that capacity until his 
death. During his years at NTCC, Mr. Nobles was active in campus life, serving on numerous 
college committees and working directly with students outside the classroom. Among his 
notable contributions is the Good Citizens Alliance, a student group that led voter 
registration drives and sponsored candidates' forums attended by people from around the 
region. He also chaired the committee that established NTCC's current bus service for 
students.

Beyond his professional service, Mr. Nobles was active in community activities wherever he 
lived. Mr. Nobles was a devoted Sunday school teacher and active member in the churches he 
attended, most recently at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant. He also volunteered 
at soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and served on various community task forces and 
committees. His last such service was as a member and chair of Mount Pleasant's Planning and 
Zoning Commission.

He was preceded in death by his father, Douglas Randolph "Doug" Nobles Sr.

Mr. Nobles is survived by his wife, Mindy; his children and stepchildren, John Nobles, David 
Nobles and wife, Jessica Nobles, Andrew Nobles, Reuben Beavers and John Beavers; his 
grandchildren, Jackson and Page Nobles, and Honey and Rebekah Beavers; mother, Avanell 
Nobles; his siblings, Steve Nobles and wife, Ginger Nobles, and Laura Bass and husband, 
Walter Bass; and his nephews, Patrick and Sam Nobles, and Walt, Preston and Tucker Bass.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. today, September 11, 2007, at First Baptist 
Church of Daingerfield, 202 Watson Blvd., Daingerfield, TX 75638, with the Rev. Mike O'Neil, 
the Rev. C.J. Shelton and Dr. Tim Wade officiating. Interment will be in Ashland Cemetery of 
Diana.

Pallbearers will be Patrick and Sam Nobles, Walt, Preston and Tucker Bass, Mike Gilmore and 
Marc McDaniel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cypress Basin Hospice and the Southern Poverty Law 
Center.

Visitation with the family was held from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening, September 10, 2007, at 
Bates Cooper Sloan Funeral Home, 2805 S. Jefferson, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 9/11/2007.