Doug was born on March 26, 1942 to parents Marvin and Marjorie Messer in LaGrange, GA.
Doug was captain of the LaGrange High School football team that won the Georgia high school state AAA football championship in 1958. He attended Florida State University, where he played college football and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He earned a Master’s Degree at Appalachian State University and coached football at Merritt Island High School in Florida and Decatur High School in Georgia.
In 1969, he married Linda Strickland of Austell, GA, and they had one daughter, Carrie.
He worked in Athletics Administration at Florida State University, Kansas University, Mississippi State University, and then as Athletics Director at East Tennessee State University.
He was hired at The University of Texas at Austin in 1983 and served there for nearly 30 years, retiring as Senior Associate Athletics Director in August 2012. Working in his dream job, along with Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds, he was part of an administrative team that helped create the “golden age” of Longhorn Athletics as the Department moved into the 21st Century.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Marjorie, and his brothers, Jerry Messer and Kenny Messer. He is survived by his wife, Linda Messer, daughter Carrie Weir (spouse Elliott Weir), grandchildren Travis and Tyler Weir, his sister Lynn Springston, stepmother Dorothy Messer, as well as beloved nieces and nephews and extended family members.
A memorial service will be held at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home in Lakeway on Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, TX.
