Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
MCDONALD, Robert Delos
MCDONALD, Robert Delos. (Dubuque, IA, Jan 30, 1931--Dubuque, IA, Sept. 2, 2006). The son of Delos Lyon and Virginia (Kolck) McDonald, Robert was educated at BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Kemper Military School in Missouri, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre during the KOREAN CONFLICT, reaching the rank of Lieutenant J.G. He returned to Dubuque to work for the family business, A.Y.MCDONALD MANUFACTURING COMPANY. He married Marilyn Miller Kempthorne on July 4, 1978, at Fountain Hill. (1)
Robert served in many capacities throughout his fifty-year career with the company, including sales manager, Dubuque branch manager and corporate secretary. He became president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the company in 1985 and served in this capacity until 1995. McDonald remained chairman of the board until his retirement in 2003. He served as chairman of the board emeritus until his passing. He was involved in many trade organizations in the gas and water works industries. (2)
Robert D. McDonald contributed greatly to many civic projects in Dubuque and Iowa. He served on the boards of STONEHILL CARE CENTER, Stonehill Benevolent Foundation, BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB OF GREATER DUBUQUE, DUBUQUE RACING ASSOCIATION, United Way, DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Grand Opera House Foundation, Iowa College Foundation, Terrace Hill Foundation, Regional Advisory Council of the Small Businessman's Association and the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. He served as an Iowa State Historical Society trustee and a member of the board of directors of the A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company Charitable Foundation. He also was a member of the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6, DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY and the DUBUQUE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. He was a charter member of the National Council of Republicans. (3)
Not all contributions are as celebrated as they should be by society. In the late 1990s Robert McDonald and Brad McGowan, now of Kalona, Iowa, co-founded the Save Iowa's Civil War Monument Foundation to refurbish the Iowa Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the grounds of the Iowa Capitol. Robert was extremely proud of Andrew Young MCDONALD who fought in the celebrated First Iowa Infantry at the Battle of Wilson's Creek. McGowan was equally proud of his great, great-grandfather who fought with the Second Iowa Cavalry. (4) McDonald was "instrumental," according to McGowan in obtaining for the Foundation the 501c tax exempt status which enabled it to raise a large amount of the monies used for the project. Unfortunately their efforts were not recorded on the plaque attached to the monument in 1999. (5)
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Source:
1. "Huzzah to McDonald for 140 Years," Telegraph Herald, Feb. 29, 1996, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Mp9dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6lwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3412,5444635&dq=ay+mcdonald+manufacturing+company&hl=en
2. Obituary, Telegraph Herald, September 3, 2006, p. 35
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Brad McGowan, e-mail, March 13, 2019
6. "Robert Delos McDonald." http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=75740245 (additional information)
