Mexico Lindo founder dead at 75

GAINESVILLE - A former teacher and coach at North Hall High School, who later co-founded with is wife the Mexico Lindo newspaper, has died.

David Morris Anderson, Sr., 75, of Gainesville, died Wednesday at Northeast Georgia Medical Center following a brief illness.

He co-founded Mexico Lindo with his wife Haydee in 1990.

In 2003, the newspaper received the Georgia School Boards Association 2003 Beacon Award, which recognizes “news media organizations whose coverage over time has created understanding of public education issues by informing the general public about programs, policies and/or issues affecting the public schools, students, and/or communities.”

Currently, the Library System of the University of Georgia is in the process of archiving all 22 years of Mexico Lindo newspapers on microfilm, including more than 150,000 photographs, thanks to a collaboration with the Hall County Library System.

In the fall of 1958 Anderson began teaching chemistry and biology at North Hall High School as well as coaching football, basketball and baseball but in 1967 he began working as a life insurance agent. During his career in the insurance industry Anderson was president of Life Leaders of Georgia and qualified many times for the one of the highest honors bestowed upon insurance agents in his region, the Million Dollar Roundtable.

During his lifetime, he served on the boards of a number of charitable organizations in Hall County and enjoyed coaching teams in different sports at the Boys and Girls Club.

Anderson was an avid theatre lover, and acted in Gainesville/Brenau University theatre productions of "Something Happened on the Way to the Forum," "The King and I," "Hamlet," and other productions directed by former Gainesville State College Theater Director Ed Cabell. He also acted in television commercials.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.

(A full obituary can be found on the AccessNorthGa.com Obituaries page.)