HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-10-03 The story of John D. MacArthur (North County News)Nona CoutoTY NvAL5
Oct 3,
The story
of John D.
MacArthur
John D. MacArthur, founder of
the City of Palm Beach Gardettr,
maintained a low profile for a
millionaire, but had an enormous
impact on the lives of countless
Floridians.
He grew up in Chicago, the
youngest son of Reverend William
MacArthur. According to an
American Weekly article, "Reve-
rend MacArthur instilled in his
family a passion for victory no
matter how great or small the
prize."
In December, 1929 he bought
the nearly defunct Bankers Life
and Casualty with the borrowed
sum of $2,500. "Nobody had
$40/month to spend on insurance
in the depression," MacArthur
said. He adopted a scheme selling
$1/month policies door-to-door,
then sold them by mail. By 1943
MacArthur had acquired 12 other
insurance companies and had
assets of „ . In 1961 he
,imtd assets totaling over $200-million.
-In May, $961, MacAfthur received
'the fah Annual Horatio Alger
Award, awarded through ' The
American Schools .and Colleges
Association.
MacArthur only attended
grammar school, but became a
financial wizard. Associates attri-
bute part of his success to frugal
habits. A story demonstrating this
quality goes like this: MacArthur
instructed an employee to buy a
plane ticket between Chicago and
Palm Beach. The employee said,
"Mr. MacArthur, you can go
first-class for $93 or tourist -class
for $59. MacArthur only half joking
replied, "Find out what they'll
take for standing room."
From various accounts, Mac-
Arthur was an unassuming
millionaire. He dressed casually,
treated people equally regardless
of status, and pitched right in,
doing the "dirty work." Patricia
Barberio relays the following story:
"When John D. MacArthur was
through the wooded n
he adryiea ofinol7toNahrin.posgff, 11, planning his cit
e ary aymg out
etc. One day hewas driving
•Monet Road initially laying out the
right-of-way for PGA Boulevard.
Since he had not made preivous
plans to do this, and had just
decidedon a whim,"he was
alone and driving a brand new
Cadillac. As he bounced and
jounced through the woods he hit
something and bent the axle of his
car. Now miles from nowhere, he
remembered seeing electric lines
and decided to walk back and
follow them, since he thought that
there was a house around
somewhere. Since the ground was
very muddy, he took no thought of
walking in a puddle; and to his
amazement, he sunk into a hole
full of water up to his hips. Fulling
himself out, he continued on until
he found the house. He knocked
door;on the and when the lady of
the 'house opened it, there stood
Mr. MacArthur, one of the richest
men in America, dripping wet and
muddy saying, "Do you have a
phone I could use?" He relates
that the lady was very gracious and
insisted that he come in and dry
off. He called his office and they
sent a truck to pull his Cadillac out.
and retrieve him. Learning his
lesson, he says "No more
Cadillacs. I always take Jeeps out
on those kinds of trips now."
MacArthur's brother was the
late playwright, Charles Mac-
Arthur, his sister-in-law, Helen
Hayes, and his nephew, actor
James MacArthur.
MacArthur developed or contri-
buted to the development of the
Florida cities of Lake Park, Carol
City, North Palm Beach, and Palm
Beach Gardens. His commitment,
generous spirit, and perseverance
will be remembered by subsequent
generations of Palm Beach
Gardens residents.
John D. MacArthur died in
January 1978.