He was one of a kind, associates say of tycoon (Times) 1978was ane
MARLENE PASSELL
And JOE BROGAN
Times Staff Writers
t
People from the worlds of govern-
ment, business and sports A reacted
today with sadness at the news of
John D. MacArthur's death.
Banker Jerry Thomas of Jupiter, a
former Florida Senate president,
JOHN.De MACARTHUR, 1897=1978
said, "In the most sense he
was a unique individual. He valued
friendships very much and he al-
ways enjoyed a good story.
"He had a great sense of humor
and always welcomed a chal-
lenge ... one of the most humble indi-
viduals I've ever known.
"Whether catching sea cows, sav-
ing be'ac-he,,d whales or moving giant
trees he never asked anyone to do
anything he wouldn't do himself."
Jack Nicklaus, who met MacAr-
thur in 1971 when he won the PGA
title and individual honors -in the
World Cup at MacArthur's JDM
Country Club, said they had re-
mained friends since.
"Mr. Mac had a good sense of
humor and I found him pleasant to
be with through the years," Nick-
laus said,
State Sen. Philip Lewis, D -West
Palm Beach, said, "He was of a
breed disappearing in this country —
a self-made man. He made an ex-
traordinary contribution to the area.
"He was a one-man industry who
helped to develop the ' entire north
end of this county."
The man who bought Channel 12
television from him in 1973, Alex W.
Dfeyfoos Jr., said MacArthur was
not strictly a profit and loss busi-
nessman.
"Negotiating with him was one of
the most interesting periods of my
life. He very possibly could have
gotten more for it on the open mar-
ket, but I think he wanted it to re-
main in local hands.
kind,.
tycoon.
"For him, nego"biating. was an en-
joyable interlude. He got a personal
satisfaction from -it," Dreyfoos said.
"Sometimes he'd call and say,
`Dreyfoos, are you still interested in
buying the station? Well, come on
over for lunch.'
"There would be many interesting
people there, and after the lunch
was over, he'd put his arm around
me, walk me to the door and say,
`Why don't you change paragraph
such and such to read a certain way
and give me a call later?...
Montreal Expos Manager Dick
Williams, reached at his home in Ir-
vine, Calif., said, "For the six
months that I worked for him, you
couldn't have asked for a more in-
teresting and wonderful person."
I MacArthur asked Williams to
work for him as a personal aide in
1974 when Williams was prevented
from joining the New York Yankees
by Oakland A's owner Charles O.
Finley.
A spokesman for America's only
surviving billionaire, Daniel K. Lud-
wig of New York, said neither Lud-
wig nor any of his staff would com-
ment.
Former North Palm Beach Mayor
H. Mallory Privett Jr., who fought a
series of battles with MacArthur in
the early 1970's over the tycoon's de-
sire to dredge and fill Air Force
Beach and Big Munyon Island, said
he was saddened by the passing.
"We had substantial controversy
MacArthur rated a's "one of a kind'
. Continued from Page Al
over his dredge and fill plans, but
fortunately. they worked out in favor
of the Village of North Palm
Beach," Privett said.
Current North Palm Mayor M.C.
Love Jr. said, "We've had conflicts
with Mr. MacArthur, but all in all
he did a good job in the north end
and was instrumental in developing
it into what it is today.'
Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Rich-
ard Feeney called MacArthur,
founder of the tcwn, "A tremendous
individual. No one has affected the
people of . Florida as much as he
has.,'
Lake Park Mayor I Clifton Cook
said, "He's done a -great deal for the
area in spite olf the fact that many
of us have criticized him for his con.-
trol of the area."
Palm Beach Shores jN/layor Paul J.
Kiang said, "We're really very sorry
to hear the passing of Mr. MacAr-
thur, He was the most orominent
resident of our community and he'll
be missed.
Riviera Beach Mayor Bobbie
Brooks described MacArthur as a
shrewd businessman but added that
their relationship had been a good
one and that he would be missed. .