McDonald, Jack, 1934-2017
Dates
- Existence: 1934 April 15 - 2017 November 25
Biographical Note
John “Jack” McDonald was born on 1934 April 15 to Dorcas Anne Hutcheson McDonald and John Robert Harrison McDonald in Scotland. McDonald lived in Scotland until he was six years old, at which time his parents moved him and his siblings to his mother’s hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee due to the outbreak of World War II in Europe. In Chattanooga, McDonald attended McCallie School and Culver Academy, and earned advanced degrees from Emory University and the London School of Economics.
McDonald was a financial advisor, entrepreneur, and founder of Green Acres of America, Inc. He was active in civic life as a philanthropist and was engaged in local politics, in particular as the chairman of the Young Republicans in Chattanooga in the 1970s and as a one time-candidate for United States Congress. McDonald was active in initiatives to revitalize the Tennessee River waterfront and served on the board of numerous local groups including Friends of the Festival, the Moccasin Bend Task Force, River Gorge Trust, and Mark Making.
In 1979-1980, McDonald’s Green Acres of America formed part of an investment group including Franklin Group Architects and real estate developer Tommy Van Cleave. The group restored and redeveloped the historic Frances Willard Home at 615 Lindsay Street from a residential building into commercial office space.
McDonald died on 2017 November 25 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee.