Frank McGehee

Frank Sutton McGehee, Sr. (August 15, 1928 – July 12, 2006) was a Jacksonville, Florida business and civic leader who served on the boards of many non-profit entities and a generous supporter of the Bolles School.[1]

Early years

McGehee was born and raised in Jacksonville and graduated from the Bolles School. He attended the University of Alabama, earning a bachelor's degree in economics in 1950. He married his wife, the former Ann Whitehurst in 1949 and they had three children, Frank S. Jr. (Sutton), David S. and Ann.[1]

Business

Frank’s father, Clifford Graham McGehee, had founded the Jacksonville Paper Company in 1919, and after college, Frank went to work in the family business. By 1956, his brother Tom McGehee became president of the company, which was sold by the family in 1965. Frank and Tom immediately started a new company, Mac Papers, to target the printing and graphics industries.[2] The business was successful and expanded throughout 8 southeastern states. As of 2006, the firm recorded sales in excess of $500 million, employed 950 people and was one of the 50 largest private companies in the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area.[1]

Television

Frank and his brother Tom founded Christian Television of Jacksonville. The non-profit purchased Channel 47 before it was launched in August 1980 and requested the call letters, WXAO. "XAO" stood for "Christ, the alpha and the omega" in Greek. Their intent was to be an alternative to commercial television's sex and violence by broadcasting programs from The PTL Club, Christian Television Network, and Trinity Broadcast Network. The station was Jacksonville's first 24-hour station, but never generated a large viewership and was sold in 1990 for approximately $3 million.[1][3]

Community

McGehee was a founding member and long-time Deacon at the San Jose Church of Christ. He was active in civic endeavors in Jacksonville, serving as a trustee for Wolfson Children's Hospital, including a term as chairman; Bolles School board chairman; a National Paper Trade Association director; president of the Georgia Christian School and Home in Valdosta; Vice President of the North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America; and Director of the now defunct Flagship Banks of Jacksonville.[4]

The McGehee Auditorium at the Bolles School was dedicated in 1976, a gift from Ann and Frank McGehee.

He and his wife established the Frank and Ann McGehee Endowment with the Community Foundation in Jacksonville to award grants to worthy non-profit organizations.[5]

Death

McGehee died in 2006 at the age of 77 after a 10-year battle with Dementia.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kerr, Jessie-Lynne: Florida Times-Union, July 14, 2006, "Mac Papers co-founder was civic, religious leader"
  2. ↑ Mac Papers, About our Company
  3. ↑ McAlister, Nancy: Florida times-Union, June 17, 2002, “New CBS affiliate has garage-studio roots”
  4. ↑ Florida Times-Union, July 14, 2006, "Frank McGehee obituary"
  5. ↑ Florida Times-Union, June 21, 2003, "Groups gain grants for expansion"
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