Nixon Clinton Flash, the loyal dog who accompanied publisher David Flash through more than a decade of adventures, road trips, and reporting across Texas, died Oct. 15, 2025. He was 15.
Half Border Collie and half Springer Spaniel, Nixon was born in November 2010 and adopted by Flash a little over a year later, shortly after the death of his younger brother. “I was broken then, and Nixon helped me heal,” Flash said. “He wasn’t just a dog — he was my heart, my companion, and my comfort through some of the hardest years of my life.”
Known for his intelligence, gentle temperament, and unwavering loyalty, Nixon became a fixture in Flash’s life and career as publisher of Texas Reporter and Big Bend Times. He joined Flash on assignments across the state and was a quiet, constant presence through years of building independent Texas media.
Nixon’s early years were spent in College Station, where he quickly became a familiar sight at local favorites such as Revolution Café, The Village Café, and Sweet Eugene’s Coffeehouse. Through Aggieland Pets With a Purpose and Hospice Brazos Valley, Nixon brought comfort to nursing-home residents and hospice patients. Flash recalled one hospice visit when Nixon gently placed his paws on a patient’s knees and began licking his hands. “The man just smiled and said, ‘Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,’ over and over,” Flash said. “That’s who Nixon was — pure kindness.”
For a summer, the pair volunteered with a local Methodist church to deliver cereal to families in housing communities. “Those kids adored him,” Flash said. “For some of them, it was their first chance to walk a dog, and Nixon made them feel safe and happy.”
Nixon spent his later years in the Big Bend region, where his life intertwined deeply with Flash’s work covering rural Texas. He loved the grassy riverbanks overlooking Mexico, barking at horses that came down to drink. During the year Flash lived on the Point of Rocks Ranch in Fort Davis, Nixon roamed freely and peacefully, watching the high desert’s quiet rhythms. Around Marfa, people recognized him instantly and were always kind to him. At the Los Ojitos site in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Nixon ran joyfully through the open country, fascinated by the sound of wind in the grass.
He was also a devoted big brother to his dog sisters, Molly and Bailey. When Molly arrived frightened after a rough start, Nixon’s calm presence helped her trust again. He also shared a special bond with Flash’s mother, who never failed to spoil him with extra treats.
Even as he aged and his hearing faded, Nixon’s gentle presence never changed. When he could no longer hike, Flash said, he would still see Nixon’s paws move in his sleep — as if he were running again through the mountains he loved.
“Nixon was with me through heartbreak and healing, through quiet nights and long road trips,” Flash said. “He taught me about love, loyalty, and kindness — the kind that lasts forever.”
Nixon Clinton Flash is survived by his human companion, David Flash, and his dog sisters, Molly and Bailey.
Thank you to the team at Stardust Pet Cremations in Austin, Texas for the love, care, professionalism, and dignity y’all brought to Nixon’s final car ride, his cremation, and the delivery of his remains, paw print, hair clippings, and nose print along with lovely flowers and kind, compassionate words.
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