James M. McDonald (July 20, 1881 – September 21, 1956) was an American retailing executive. He helped to build the JCPenneydepartment store chain, as well as a chain of department stores under his own name.
James M. McDonald Sr. was born July 20, 1881, in Kingston, Missouri, the fourth of five sons of Daniel G. McDonald, who operated a mercantile store in Hamilton, Missouri, that was part of a chain called the Cash-Cowgill Company. Working for his father gave McDonald his first taste of the merchandising business.[1]
In April 1905, McDonald moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming to assist James Cash Penney, a former neighbor of his in Hamilton, in operating his first store. After about six months in Kemmerer, McDonald went to Spokane, Washington, to assists his brothers in a department store venture there. McDonald married Josephine Armstrong in December 1910 in Spokane. In 1911, McDonald rejoined Penney as an assistant manager in his 25th store in Pendleton, Oregon. In the spring of 1912, McDonald was promoted to manager of the Penney store in Moscow, Idaho. In 1914, he was promoted to Penney's headquarters in New York City. McDonald became a member of Penney's board of directors and, in 1921, was made a vice president of the company and was put in charge of merchandising and new store acquisitions. He headed those departments until his retirement in 1929.[1]
J.M. McDonald department stores
J. M. McDonald's Department Store, Helena, Montana
For the next seven years after his retirement, McDonald maintained an office in New York City doing consulting work with manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers. He became acquainted with Ebden Brown of the Brown-Ekberg Company of Holdrege, Nebraska, a department store that was in financial trouble. Following a 1934 luncheon with Brown, McDonald bought out Brown's partner, Harry Ekberg, the store was renamed Brown-McDonald, and the company opened four new stores in the next three years.[1] The company's headquarters was moved to Hastings, Nebraska in 1936.[2]
McDonald's brother, D.G. McDonald, headed the company from 1937 until his death in 1947. McDonald briefly retook the reins after D.G.'s death; in 1948, his son, J.M. McDonald Jr., was named president. The chain continued to expand throughout the Midwest and Western states, and it eventually took on the J.M. McDonald name.[1]
The department store chain was sold in 1968 to Gamble-Skogmo Inc., which continued to operate the stores.[3] Gamble-Skogmo was sold to the Wickes Corp. in 1980.[4] Wickes filed for bankruptcy in 1982, and the J.M. McDonald stores were liquidated by the end of 1983 as part of Wickes' restructuring.[5][6]
Farming and philanthropy
In the mid-1920s, McDonald purchased a farm in Cortland, New York, where he established a small herd of purebred Guernsey cattle. It eventually became one of the most prominent Guernsey herds in the country. Upon his death, Mr. McDonald bequeathed the nucleus of the McDonald Farms herd of 365 head to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to be maintained for a long-time breeding research program. About 1,700 acres of farmland and all the equipment were also included.[1]
McDonald was also a major donor to the School of the Ozarks in Missouri, where he funded rebuilding of the school museum, an updated machine shop and a new hospital.[1]
In 1952, he established the J.M. McDonald Foundation, which awards grants in education, humanities, health, and a variety of social and human services, primarily in upstate New York.[1] The foundation has also funded projects in Hastings, Nebraska, where the department store was headquartered.[2]
References
^ abcdefg"J. M. McDonald Foundation - History". jmmcdonaldfoundation.org.
^ ab"Then & Now: J.M. McDonald Co". Hastings Tribune. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
^"News Digest, Securities & Exchange Commission, August 1, 1968" (PDF).
^Diana K. Townsend (1982-06-04). "J.M. McDonald's store here will remain open". The Yuma Daily Sun. Yuma, Arizona. pp. 1–2.
^John Vaughn (1983-08-14). "McDonalds store's long tradition here ending". The Yuma Daily Sun. Yuma, Arizona. pp. –1.
External links
J.M. McDonald Foundation
January 06, 2023
mcdonald, james, mcdonald, july, 1881, september, 1956, american, retailing, executive, helped, build, jcpenney, department, store, chain, well, chain, department, stores, under, name, contents, history, department, stores, farming, philanthropy, references, e. James M McDonald July 20 1881 September 21 1956 was an American retailing executive He helped to build the JCPenney department store chain as well as a chain of department stores under his own name Contents 1 History 1 1 J M McDonald department stores 2 Farming and philanthropy 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditJames M McDonald Sr was born July 20 1881 in Kingston Missouri the fourth of five sons of Daniel G McDonald who operated a mercantile store in Hamilton Missouri that was part of a chain called the Cash Cowgill Company Working for his father gave McDonald his first taste of the merchandising business 1 In April 1905 McDonald moved to Kemmerer Wyoming to assist James Cash Penney a former neighbor of his in Hamilton in operating his first store After about six months in Kemmerer McDonald went to Spokane Washington to assists his brothers in a department store venture there McDonald married Josephine Armstrong in December 1910 in Spokane In 1911 McDonald rejoined Penney as an assistant manager in his 25th store in Pendleton Oregon In the spring of 1912 McDonald was promoted to manager of the Penney store in Moscow Idaho In 1914 he was promoted to Penney s headquarters in New York City McDonald became a member of Penney s board of directors and in 1921 was made a vice president of the company and was put in charge of merchandising and new store acquisitions He headed those departments until his retirement in 1929 1 J M McDonald department stores Edit J M McDonald s Department Store Helena Montana For the next seven years after his retirement McDonald maintained an office in New York City doing consulting work with manufacturers retailers and wholesalers He became acquainted with Ebden Brown of the Brown Ekberg Company of Holdrege Nebraska a department store that was in financial trouble Following a 1934 luncheon with Brown McDonald bought out Brown s partner Harry Ekberg the store was renamed Brown McDonald and the company opened four new stores in the next three years 1 The company s headquarters was moved to Hastings Nebraska in 1936 2 McDonald s brother D G McDonald headed the company from 1937 until his death in 1947 McDonald briefly retook the reins after D G s death in 1948 his son J M McDonald Jr was named president The chain continued to expand throughout the Midwest and Western states and it eventually took on the J M McDonald name 1 The department store chain was sold in 1968 to Gamble Skogmo Inc which continued to operate the stores 3 Gamble Skogmo was sold to the Wickes Corp in 1980 4 Wickes filed for bankruptcy in 1982 and the J M McDonald stores were liquidated by the end of 1983 as part of Wickes restructuring 5 6 Farming and philanthropy EditIn the mid 1920s McDonald purchased a farm in Cortland New York where he established a small herd of purebred Guernsey cattle It eventually became one of the most prominent Guernsey herds in the country Upon his death Mr McDonald bequeathed the nucleus of the McDonald Farms herd of 365 head to Cornell University in Ithaca New York to be maintained for a long time breeding research program About 1 700 acres of farmland and all the equipment were also included 1 McDonald was also a major donor to the School of the Ozarks in Missouri where he funded rebuilding of the school museum an updated machine shop and a new hospital 1 In 1952 he established the J M McDonald Foundation which awards grants in education humanities health and a variety of social and human services primarily in upstate New York 1 The foundation has also funded projects in Hastings Nebraska where the department store was headquartered 2 References Edit a b c d e f g J M McDonald Foundation History jmmcdonaldfoundation org a b Then amp Now J M McDonald Co Hastings Tribune 21 March 2014 Retrieved 1 February 2015 News Digest Securities amp Exchange Commission August 1 1968 PDF They chased a dream Gamble Skogmo stores built from long friendship that began in Arthur Fargo N D Forum March 13 1999 Archived from the original on May 17 2006 Diana K Townsend 1982 06 04 J M McDonald s store here will remain open The Yuma Daily Sun Yuma Arizona pp 1 2 John Vaughn 1983 08 14 McDonalds store s long tradition here ending The Yuma Daily Sun Yuma Arizona pp 1 External links EditJ M McDonald Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J M McDonald amp oldid 1125710529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
