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John McDonnell (businessman)
Encyclopedia
John F. McDonnell is an American businessman and philanthropist. McDonnell served as the Chairman of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation from 1988 until its merger with Boeing
in 1997 and its Chief Executive Officer
from 1988 until 1994, he has been a corporate director at Boeing
since the 1997 merger.
founder James Smith McDonnell
. McDonnell completed his Bachelor's in aeronautical engineering at Princeton University
in 1960. After marrying his wife Anne in 1961, McDonnell began working for MAC as a strength engineer on Project Gemini
the following year. After McDonnell became Chairman in 1988, he helped create the newsmagazine 90 Days
as a way to keep employees and shareholders abreast of what was going on in McDonnell Douglas.
After McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997, McDonnell himself held the title of largest individual shareholder in the combined company in March 2003. In addition to his continued involvement with Boeing, he is also a director of BJC HealthCare, chairman of the board of Barnes-Jewish Hospital
and vice chairman of the board of Washington University
. McDonnell is also a lifetime trustee of the St. Louis Science Center
. In 2006, McDonnell and the JSM Charitable Trust endowed $10 million to Washington University
for the creation of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. Commenting on the program McDonnell said, "So far the Academy has progressed beyond my expectations." McDonnell was later named St. Louis "Citizen of the Year" in 2009. McDonnell resides in the St. Louis area, and enjoys traveling and tennis as hobbies.
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
in 1997 and its Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
from 1988 until 1994, he has been a corporate director at Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
since the 1997 merger.
Early life and career
Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1938, McDonnell is the son of McDonnell AircraftMcDonnell Aircraft
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
founder James Smith McDonnell
James Smith McDonnell
James Smith "Mac" McDonnell was an American aviation pioneer and founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, later McDonnell Douglas.-Early life:...
. McDonnell completed his Bachelor's in aeronautical engineering at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1960. After marrying his wife Anne in 1961, McDonnell began working for MAC as a strength engineer on Project Gemini
Project Gemini
Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Project Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966....
the following year. After McDonnell became Chairman in 1988, he helped create the newsmagazine 90 Days
90 Days
90 Days was "a video report about issues, events and people important to you and McDonnell Douglas." The video magazine was produced in St. Louis, MO and distributed at the end of every business quarter through the mail to employees and shareholders of the company in VHS format...
as a way to keep employees and shareholders abreast of what was going on in McDonnell Douglas.
After McDonnell Douglas and Boeing merged in 1997, McDonnell himself held the title of largest individual shareholder in the combined company in March 2003. In addition to his continued involvement with Boeing, he is also a director of BJC HealthCare, chairman of the board of Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the largest hospital in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the adult teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine, and is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is consistently rated one of the top hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report...
and vice chairman of the board of Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. McDonnell is also a lifetime trustee of the St. Louis Science Center
St. Louis Science Center
The Saint Louis Science Center is a collection of buildings including a science museum and planetarium in St. Louis, Missouri, on the southeastern corner of Forest Park. The Planetarium opened in 1963, and it was expanded and renamed as the Saint Louis Science Center in 1983...
. In 2006, McDonnell and the JSM Charitable Trust endowed $10 million to Washington University
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
for the creation of the McDonnell International Scholars Academy. Commenting on the program McDonnell said, "So far the Academy has progressed beyond my expectations." McDonnell was later named St. Louis "Citizen of the Year" in 2009. McDonnell resides in the St. Louis area, and enjoys traveling and tennis as hobbies.