The Tega Cay Historical Society published a retrospective Saturday, Oct. 17, examining the May 2003 issue of the Tega Cay Tradewinds, the first edition printed after founder Shirley "Sam" McDonald's death. McDonald had produced the community newsletter by herself for more than 20 years.
Written by Scott Miller, the piece reproduces the unsigned front-page tribute that greeted Tega Cay readers that spring. The note called McDonald the voice of the newsletter and the city's volunteer culture.
"She was, and still is, the Tradewinds," the tribute read. "This newsletter simply would not be here without her."
The author, who was not identified, acknowledged the scale of McDonald's work, writing that it took a team of several people to do what she had done alone. The Tega Cay Property Owners Association (POA) pledged to keep the Tradewinds going. Juan Valencia was listed as editor on the May 2003 masthead.
The last page carried three words in script: "Good Night, Sam."
McDonald launched the Tradewinds in 1981 after earlier community publications folded, according to a separate Historical Society post by guest writer Jerry Church. The Polynesian Reporter, the Tega Cay Currents and the Lake Wylie Post had each served the peninsula before closing. McDonald filled the gap.
Her obituary, reproduced in the Historical Society's archive, says she served as mayor of Tega Cay from 1988 to 1990. Church's account places her term from 1989 to 1990. Both sources agree she also sat on the POA board and served on the emergency management and fire department boards.
Church wrote that McDonald led the city's response to Hurricane Hugo, which struck on Sept. 22, 1989. She coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), organized debris removal and created a permanent Emergency Management Committee. She also presented volunteers with "Hugo Hero" buttons at a community celebration.
During her time as mayor, Church wrote, McDonald finalized a zoning ordinance that included a minimum one-third-acre lot requirement. She negotiated with developers over new subdivisions and recreational access.
Church, a Tega Cay resident, personally scanned all 105 issues of the Tradewinds. The full collection is available in the TegaCayHistory.com Library. In 2000, residents dropped off their news items at a box at McDonald's front door, the Historical Society noted.
McDonald died on Feb. 10, 2003. Her obituary asked that memorials be directed to the Tega Cay Rescue Squad.
