Special to the
Opelika Observer

Don Machen of the Auburn-based Machen and McChesney accounting firm was honored with the Walter Gilbert Award during Auburn University’s gridiron contest v. Southern Mississippi Sept. 29 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The award is presented annually to a former Auburn student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence in their chosen field.
Machen, a co-captain for the Tigers during his senior year in 1961, also received the Bill Streit Award and the Cliff Hare Award while attending Auburn. He came to Auburn in 1958 from Sylacauga.
Sixty years, three children and nine grandchildren later, Don and his wife Jane still enjoy their life in Auburn. After Machen earned his accounting and MBA degrees, he helped create Machen McChesney, LLP, a CPA and advisory firm that has served clients for more than 60 years in Auburn and surrounding communities.
Machen McChesney, LLP was recently recognized by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the top-400 firms in the nation and by Business Alabama for one of the largest accounting firms in Alabama. Along the way, Machen delved into his community, epitomizing community involvement, serving in leadership roles on virtually every board in town as well as state and national professional organizations.
Reflecting on his six decades in Auburn, Machen thanked the many people who had invested in him, including his beloved wife.
“I was accompanied on this journey with a solid rock in the foundation of my life and career by my wonderful, loving wife Jane. She has not only been my guiding light for 58 years but the mother of my loving children Mindy, Melanie, and Mike and grandmother to 9 wonderful grandchildren,” Machen said. “I was blessed to attend Auburn University in the era of some of the greatest coaches in our athletic history. It started with my head coach, Ralph Jordan, and continued with a staff of assistants; my freshmen coach, Erk Russell, varsity coaches Vince Dooley, Buck Bradberry, Gene Lorendo, Hal Herring, and Joel Eaves just to name a few. These men taught me so much more than just football. They taught me the basic fundamentals of life and gave me a strong base to begin my career.”
“I want to thank all the people in my life that have made receiving the Walter Gilbert Award possible. It is certainly a great honor to be on this list with the previous recipients and an award that I will always cherish. Thank you to the Auburn University athletic department and to all the great Auburn Family.”
For more information, visit www.machenmcchesney.com. The firm is located at 1820 E. University Drive.