James S. McDonnell
Founder
McDonnell Aircraft
Laureate 2006
,James S. McDonnell was born in 1899 and grew up in Little Rock, Ark. He was raised to believe children should work for their money instead of getting an allowance, and his first job was delivering newspapers by horseback for $3.50 a week. As a teenager, he showed an interest in technology by filling his attic with wireless telegraph equipment and antennas. After high school, James went to Princeton University, where his first airplane ride got him thinking about a career in aviation. A course in astronomy ignited his interest in the planets and stars. He then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the only school offering a graduate degree in aeronautical engineering at the time. In 1923, he joined the Army Air Service and earned his pilot’s wings. After leaving the military, he spent 15 years working as a test pilot and engineer with several aircraft companies. In 1939, he founded McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis and built a tiny operation with just a few employees into the largest manufacturing company in Missouri. His company built some of the world’s best known jet fighters and America’s first manned spacecraft. He was a charismatic leader, beloved by his employees. He called them his “teammates,” and they called him “Mr. Mac.” No matter how successful he became, he never forgot it was his “teammates” who helped him reach the top. Mr. Mac believed in supporting his community. When St. Louis needed $200,000 to complete construction of its planetarium, Mr. Mac made up the difference. Then he contributed more money to establish an educational program at the center. Mr. Mac remained active in the company he founded until his death on August 22, 1980.
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