Jim N. McDonald

Jim N. McDonald (’52), Corsicana. Jim made his way from farming in Iowa Park to earning a bachelor's degree in business administration while working two jobs and raising a family of three. He worked in insurance for 61 years, starting at Employers Insurance of Texas. He established and owned his own insurance brokerage firm, Risk Consultants, where he handled accounts from leading companies such as Helzberg Diamonds, King Ranch and Zales Corporation. He then worked with Bayly, Martin & Fay, one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the world. He served as president of Frank B. Hall Company, then formed his own company, McDonald & Company. He loved traveling and was known for his generosity, including aiding stranded strangers during his travels. His relatives include wife Sharron Daniel Green McDonald (’74); brother Harold McDonald (’55); sister Sue McDonald Davis, who attended in the late 1950s; daughters Joy Houser, senior lecturer in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, and Susan McDonald Padgett, adjunct professor, Cadre coordinator and student teacher coordinator from 2006 to 2020; granddaughter Megan Barber (’10); and other relatives who have attended North Texas since 1929.

Jim N. McDonald (’52), Corsicana. Jim made his way from farming in Iowa Park to earning a bachelor's degree in business administration while working two jobs and raising a family of three. He worked in insurance for 61 years, starting at Employers Insurance of Texas. He established and owned his own insurance brokerage firm, Risk Consultants, where he handled accounts from leading companies such as Helzberg Diamonds, King Ranch and Zales Corporation. He then worked with Bayly, Martin & Fay, one of the largest insurance brokerage firms in the world. He served as president of Frank B. Hall Company, then formed his own company, McDonald & Company. He loved traveling and was known for his generosity, including aiding stranded strangers during his travels. His relatives include wife Sharron Daniel Green McDonald (’74); brother Harold McDonald (’55); sister Sue McDonald Davis, who attended in the late 1950s; daughters Joy Houser, senior lecturer in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, and Susan McDonald Padgett, adjunct professor, Cadre coordinator and student teacher coordinator from 2006 to 2020; granddaughter Megan Barber (’10); and other relatives who have attended North Texas since 1929.