BEST remembered as the man who discovered one of Australia’s first dinosaur fossils, Muttaburra grazier Doug Langdon passed away at his Sword Street home late last week.
Just three weeks short of his 82nd birthday, Mr Langdon spent his life in service for his small community and was happy to see his discovery bring further prominence to his western Queensland home.
According to his wife Pearl, Doug was very proud of “his” dinosaur, Muttaburrasaurus langdoni and liked to use it to promote the town and region.
“It was a chance discovery and the rest is history,” she said.
The family had a butchery business in town and Doug was getting a beast in for slaughter when he saw some unusual rocks, which turned out to be part of the most complete fossilised dinosaur skeleton to be uncovered in Australia.
That was 51 years ago.
Mrs Langdon described her husband as an icon of the town.
“He was an absolute gentleman, a quiet achiever who did a lot in his own way,” she said.
After schooling at the Muttaburra State School and St Brendan’s at Yeppoon, he started an apprenticeship at the local garage, before enlisting to fight in the Korean War with 3RAR.
After being wounded and convalescing in Japan and Australia, Mr Langdon wasn’t able to return to Korea but served in the Malayan conflict instead with 2RAR.
His daughter Suzan said he was very proud of his army service and was happy to talk about it.
Back at home on Angora Park, he took on many community service roles, including 10 years as an Aramac Shire councillor, and became a life member of the Muttaburra race club and a devoted member of Legacy.
He is survived by his wife Pearl, four children Suzan, Neville, William and Roslyn, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
His funeral service was held on Thursday at the Muttaburra Memorial Hall.