The story of John D. MacArthur (North County News) 10-3-84Nona Counnrr Nryvs
OC -T. 32 1,W1
The story
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MacArthu,
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John D. MacArthur, founder of
planning his cit he d !n f
the City of Palm Beach Gardenr, "`MeTrelimmary
laying out of roads,
.maintained a low profile Ior a
'etc. One day he was driving
millionaire, but had an enormous
through the wooded area north of
impact on the lives of countless
Monet Road initially I aying out the
Floridians.
right-of-way for PGA Boulevard.
He grew up in Chicago, the
Since he had not made preivous
youngest son of Reverend William
plans to do this, and had just
MacArthur. According to an
decided on a whim, " he was
Amer1cm Weekly article, "Reve-
alone and driving a brand new
rend MacArthur instilled in his
Cadillac. As he bounced and
family a passion for victory no
-jounced through the woods he hit
matter how great or small the
something and bent the axle of his
prize. "
car. Now miles from nowhere, he,
In December, 1929 he bought
remembered seeing electric lines
the nearly defunct Bankers Life
and decided to walk back and
and Casualty with the borrowed
follow them, since he thought that
sum of $2,500. "Nobody had
there was a house around
$40/month to spend on insurance
somewhere. Since the ground was
in the depression," MacArthur
very muddy, he took no thought Of
said. He adopted a scheme selling
walking m* a puddle, and to his
$1/month policies door-to-door,
amazement, he sunk into a hole
then sold them by mail. By 1943 -
full of water up to his hips. Piling
MacArthur had acquired 12 other
himself out, he continued on until
insurance companies and had
he found the house. He knocked
assets of $1,200,000. In 1961 he.
on the door; and when the lady of
assets totaling over....$2004nilhon.
'fn
the 'house opened it, there stood
May, $961, Mac'Ar'thur received
Mr. MacArthur. one of the richest
'the f5ith Annual Hoialio Alger
men in America, drippingwet and
Award, awarded 'through -the
muddy saying, " Do you have a
American Schools .and Colleges
phone *I could use?" He relates
Association.
that the lady was very gracious and
MacArthur only attended
insisted that he come in and dry
grammar school, but became a
off. He called his office and they
financial wizard. Associates attri-
sent a truck to pull his Cadillac out
bute part of his success to frugal
and retrieve him. Learning his
habits. A story demonstrating this
lesson, he says "No more
quality goes like this: MacArthur
Cadillacs. I always take Jeeps out
instructed an employee to buy a
on those kinds of trips now.''
plane ticket between Chicago and
MacArthur's brother was the
Palm Beach. The employee said,
late playwright, Charles Mac -
"Mr. MacArthur, : you can 90
Arthur, his sister-in-law, Helen
first-class for $93 or tourist -class
Hayes, and his nephew, actor
for $59. MacArthur only half joking
James MacArthur.
replied, "Find out what they'll
MacArthur developed or contri-
take for standing room."
buted to the development of the
From various accounts, Mac-
Florida cities of Lake Park, Carol
Arthur was an unassuming
'City,- North Palm Beach, and Palm
millionaire. He dressed casually,
Beach Gardens. this commitment,
treated people equally regardless
generous spirit, and perseverance
of status, and pitched right in,,
will be remembered by subsequent
doing the "dirty work." Patricia'
generations of Palm Beach
Barberio relays the following story:
:Gardens -dens residents.
John D. MacArthur died in
When John D. MacArthur was
January 1978.