President Bush pardons former Plano mayor (mayor in coma and battling cancer)

Associated Press ^ | February 16, 2004 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

President Bush pardons former Plano mayor

03:51 PM CST on Monday, February 16, 2004

Associated Press

PLANO - President Bush has pardoned a former mayor of this North Dallas suburb who pleaded guilty to bank fraud in 1996.

David B. McCall Jr., 79, admitted he was involved in more than $25 million in fraudulent loans made at the Plano Savings and Loan Association, which failed in the mid-1980s.

Bush pardoned McCall on Saturday, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.

McCall, who is battling cancer, slipped into a coma three days ago, his wife, Nellie, said Monday. She declined to comment on the pardon.

The former mayor was sentenced to five years in prison, although he was required to spend just the first six months behind bars. He also was sentenced to five years' probation and was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution.

McCall, a Farmersville native, served as Plano's mayor from 1956 to 1960.

He and four other men, including another former Plano mayor, were indicted in August 1995 on allegations that they created a web of transactions designed to transfer troublesome loans from one institution to another. Authorities said they wanted to hide difficulties from bank examiners and relieve borrowers of the need to repay the loans.

Jack Harvard, Plano's mayor between 1982 and 1990, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Earlier this month, Plano officials renamed a downtown plaza in McCall's honor.

"For the city of Plano, having David McCall as mayor was a classic case of having the right person in the right spot at the right time," Plano Mayor Pat Evans said in a statement announcing the plaza's new name.

Evans said Plano's population doubled during McCall's tenure, and the city bought its first garbage truck and enacted its first zoning ordinance.

At the Feb. 9 rededication ceremony, McCall said he was humbled to be honored among his friends and family.

"I see all of you. I know all of you, and I thank all of you," he said.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/021604dnmetmccall.27ccc47e.html

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

...winds up paying a measely 100k, doing only 6 months time and now getting a presidential pardon. Gee, when do I go into banking?

Hey he was pardoned. He ain't going to be paying no 100K. How about some compassion for the people whose $25 million was stolen.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Peggy Bargon

http://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=402
It is this same disregard for rural America that caused federal officials to go after Peggy Bargon for presenting then-first lady Hillary Clinton with an Indian "dream catcher" which she made from various bird feathers. Because some of these feathers had fallen off of birds covered under federal wildlife protection laws, Ms. Bargon's gift cost her thousands of dollars in fines and legal fees. Yet, when federal officials exhibit blatant and willful disregard for the law, they receive a slap on the wrist and go back to work.

[antiRepublicrat]

It does. Pardons out of Christian love for the family, NOT for votes or bribes ala el Clintoons.

We'll never know the reason. A lot of presidents pardon a lot of people for various reasons, some of which are very questionable to us. Some of Bush's father's pardons don't appear to be out of any type of love and are very suspicious. This Bush may well follow in his dad's and Clinton's path.

[Truth29]

If there is some death benefit from this action, the benefit should go to the victims of the bank fraud. This type of compassion cheapens justice.

[Jank]

If the artical is so unclear, why do you take such a hard
line!

[Jank]

That's what I was thinking, of the man's family.

[Monty22]

I've lived in Plano all my life and I'm not at all rich, and I like it here too.

[Atlas Sneezed]

If the artical is so unclear, why do you take such a hard
line!

---

I wrote:
"I hope his victims got their restitution. The article is unclear."

What's so hard-line about that?

[Ben Chad]

I'm going on 20 years and am content. My ex and current wife had/have a different opinion.

[normy]

Thats where I live and I love it! Plano is a great city. You must be from Mesquite.

[commish]

Maybe one of you can clear this up. Is thier some kind of city pension or death benefit that the family might not have gotten if the man was not pardoned?

I know that there are clauses in some cities, states etc. where a convicted felon loses his benefits.

[Monty22]

I don't know about the details at all of this case, for some reason. I rarely watch local news, mostly national. But, unless I'm mistaken, I thought a presidential pardon would completely undo a felony record entirely.

[commish]

But, unless I'm mistaken, I thought a presidential pardon would completely undo a felony record entirely.

IT does, that's why I am wondering of Plano has some type of death benefit or survivor plan for ex-office holders, and if that plan maybe has a clause forbidding convicted felons families from collecting. I.E. Bush may have pardoned McCall so the family can collect the benefit

[Monty22]

You realize what you're suggesting? I legit Bush scandal.

I hope this is not the case.

[Monty22]

A legit, grr.

Anyway, I hope that's not that case.

[Cobra Scott]

Amen. Makes me sick.