A. Warner Mcnair

Warner McNair, 100, a lifetime resident of Fargo, played his final game of tennis on October 7, 2009. He won his match and the first place prize, which was a trip to be with his beloved wife, Barbara, and his eldest son, Marvin who both preceded him in death. Warner was born June 5, 1909 to Arthur and Lucille McNair in Indianapolis, Indiana. In that same year, the family moved to Fargo where siblings Mary, Jack, Lois and Emily were soon to join the family. Warner graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1928, and won the state boys tennis title that same year. He was awarded a tennis scholarship at the University of Texas, where he lettered for three years and graduated in 1932, hitch-hiking his way back and forth between Austin and Fargo. In 1930, he won the North Dakota state amateur title in singles and was also on the doubles state championship team in 1931. Warner was united in marriage to Barbara Marvin of Valley City, ND, on October 15. 1939. They were married 59 years, during which they raised four children and were involved in their business, church and community. Barbara died in 1998. Warner was in the grocery business for his entire career and owned McNair’s U-Save, a neighborhood grocery store on 8th Street South, from 1953 to 1975. In 1976, he joined Courts Plus as a “not so handyman” and “super substitute” until he retired a second time at the ripe old age of 90. Mac had three loves in his life; his family, tennis, and singing. All were good to him. Mac received his greatest honor when the Island Park courts were dedicated in his name in June of 1997. He was also inducted into the USTA North Central Section Hall of Fame in 2002. To say he was a competitor would be an understatement. Opponents rarely beat him because they were better players, “They were just luckier,” he’d say. He had a pretty good sense of humor. One day in 1953, someone heard Mac singing at the store and invited him to join the local Barbershop Chorus. He sang for 50 years and was named Great Plains Harmony’s Man of the Year in 2000. He also spent an eternity singing in the church choir at Gethsemane Cathedral and was a member of the Fargo Rotary Club. He is survived by his loving family; daughter, Linda (Dick) Quast of Morgan, MN and two sons, David (Jan) McNair of East Gull Lake, MN and Michael (Pamela) McNair of Fargo; eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Jack McNair (96) of Bethany Homes, Fargo and his sister, Lois VanderLeun (94) of Chico, California. He touched a lot of lives and will be sadly missed. A celebration of his life was held on his 100th birthday in June, 2009. Many family and friends joined Mac for laughter, stories and a wonderful concert by his beloved barbershop singers. In perfect tune, his parting verse to them and all was “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” A private family service will be held. The family requests memorials to Bethany Homes, Gethsemane Cathedral or Great Plains Harmony, all of Fargo.