J. Clifford MacDonald

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J. Clifford MacDonald
Born12 October 1901
Alexandria, Virginia
Died17 August 1963
Tampa, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Occupationbusinessman
TitleArc of the United States (owner & president)

J. Clifford MacDonald (October 12, 1901 — August 16, 1963) was an American businessman and philanthropist.[1][2] MacDonald was owner of a printing company and served as president of the Arc of the United States, then named the National Association for Retarded Children.[1] While working with people with disabilities, MacDonald started several Floridan establishments and worked with the Hillsborough County Association for the Blind as their president from 1938 to 1954. Apart from disabilities, MacDonald worked in journalism with the New York Daily News, Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times and the St. Petersburg Independent during the 1920s. MacDonald was named a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 and died before his award ceremony that year.

Biography[]

On October 12, 1901, MacDonald was born at Alexandria, Virginia. During his childhood, MacDonald lived in California and New York.[3] For his post-secondary education, MacDonald went to Columbia University for a journalism program.[4]

For his career, MacDonald worked for the New York Daily News in the 1920s before moving to the Tampa Tribune in 1924.[5] While in Florida, MacDonald continued his journalism career in St. Petersburg, Florida with the St. Petersburg Times and the St. Petersburg Independent. Apart from reporting, MacDonald started The Spectator and the St. Petersburg Daily News during the mid 1920s.[3][5] From 1926 to 1959, MacDonald was in charge of the MacDonald Printing Company in Tampa.[4]

Working with people with disabilities, MacDonald joined the Hillsborough County Association for the Blind as their president in 1938. He remained as their president until 1954.[6] During this time period, MacDonald became a member of the Florida Cooperative for the Blind as their president in 1949.[7] Throughout the early to mid 1950s, the Hillsborough Country Association for Retarded Children and the MacDonald Training Center were established by MacDonald.[8] After launching the Florida State Council for Retarded Children, MacDonald worked for the National Association for Retarded Children during the mid to late 1950s as their president.[4]

In 1963, MacDonald received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[9] President Lyndon B. Johnson said of MacDonald, upon issuing him the honor: "Businessman and philanthropist, he has directed his concern to the quiet but noble work of enlarging the lives and opportunities of the physically and mentally handicapped."[10] President John F. Kennedy awarded MacDonald the Presidential Medal via executive order, on February 22, 1963.[9] However, both MacDonald and Kennedy died prior to the December 6, 1963 ceremony.[9]

MacDonald died on August 16, 1963, in Tampa, Florida from a stroke.[1] He had a previous stroke several years before his death.[11] Following his death, MacDonald's wife accepted his President Medal of Freedom posthumously.[12] MacDonald was married and had a child with an intellectual disability.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Times, Special to The New York (1963-08-17). "J. Clifford MacDonald, 61, Dies; Worker for Retarded Children". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  2. ^ amy.gress. "History". MacDonald Training Center, Inc. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  3. ^ a b c Wilder, Paul (March 5, 1961). "Stroke Doesn't Stop Tampa Fighter for Handicapped". Tampa Tribune. p. 1-E.
  4. ^ a b c Wetterau, Bruce (1996). The Presidential Medal of Freedom: Winners and their Achievements. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. p. 67. ISBN 1568021283.
  5. ^ a b "Who Was Mr. MacDonald". Tampa Tribune. February 17, 1980. p. 1-J.
  6. ^ "For Unselfish Service". Tampa Tribune. November 13, 1954. p. 6.
  7. ^ "Tampan Heads State Blind Unit". Tampa Tribune. September 21, 1949. p. 26.
  8. ^ Canning, Michael (September 26, 2003). "Son was inspiration for center". Tampa Bay Times. sec. City Times p. 4.
  9. ^ a b c "President Kennedy's Executive Order 11085: Presidential Medal of Freedom | JFK Library". www.jfklibrary.org. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  10. ^ President, United States (1963). Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. Federal Register Division, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration.
  11. ^ "J. C. MacDonald, Longtime Helper of Handicapped, Dies". Tampa Tribune. August 17, 1963. p. 2-A.
  12. ^ "Widow of Tampan Receives High Award". The Tampa Times. December 6, 1963. p. 1-A.
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