Highlights
John Donald MacArthur was born in 1897, the youngest of seven children of a poor eastern Pennsylvanian Baptist preacher and his wife. He moved to Chicago in 1917, starting as a door-to-door salesman of life insurance. He served as a pilot in World War I , then returned to Chicago and served for a time as a reporter at the Chicago Herald Examiner, urged on by his newsman brother Charles, who later would become a famous playwright and screenwriter. But he soon returned to insurance. In 1926, he married Catherine T. Hyland, who had been a secretary at the life insurance firm owned by his brother Alfred. His wife, a South Side Chicagoan, would keep the books and take on other tasks as his busine...
John Donald MacArthur was born in 1897, the youngest of seven children of a poor eastern Pennsylvanian Baptist preacher and his wife. He moved to Chicago in 1917, starting as a door-to-door salesman of life insurance. He served as a pilot in World War I , then returned to Chicago and served for a time as a reporter at the Chicago Herald Examiner, urged on by his newsman brother Charles, who later would become a famous playwright and screenwriter. But he soon returned to insurance. In 1926, he married Catherine T. Hyland, who had been a secretary at the life insurance firm owned by his brother Alfred. His wife, a South Side Chicagoan, would keep the books and take on other tasks as his business empire grew. By 1928, he had bought an ailing firm, Marquette Life Insurance Co., at 140 S. Dearborn St. (in the same Marquette Building where the foundation he later created is based). In 1935, he bought a bankrupt Bankers Life and Casualty Co. An innovator in the sale of insurance by mail, he built Bankers Life into one of the country's largest privately held insurance companies, with more than $1 billion in assets by the late 1970s, and acquired shopping malls, paper companies, banks and media properties, among other interests. In the 1960s, he began investing heavily in Florida real estate, especially in the Palm Beach and Sarasota areas. Before he died of cancer on Jan. 6, 1978, at age 80, he was among the nation's few billionaires, yet he and his wife lived frugally in a rundown, two-bedroom apartment overlooking a parking lot in a Florida hotel he owned. The eccentric mogul used to conduct business from a table in the hotel's coffee shop. Though never much interested in charity during his lifetime, he left about $700 million in assets to be used philanthropically through the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Though a political conservative, he imposed no doctrine on the foundation, which in time has joined the ranks of the more progressive, if not liberal, philanthropies. More assets were transferred to the foundation when Catherine MacArthur died on Dec. 15, 1981, at age 72. The foundation ultimately disposed of its Bankers Life and real estate assets.
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Vote expected on erosion plan
The Palm Beach PostCity officials are scheduled to decide today whether to contribute $6 million toward a $30 million ocean breakwater designed to reduce erosion on Singer Island beaches. Palm Beach County officials say the breakwater would be an alternative to pumping...Tags: Riviera Beach
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5 best beaches on a budget
What makes a budget beach: Moderately priced motels and restaurants. Close to other interesting beaches and sites. 1. Anastasia State Recreation Area: A lot of water activities. Playground for kids. Nice views of nature. Historic St. Augustine is just...Tags: Beach Vacations, Recreational and Sporting Goods Industry
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South Florida beaches
Hollywood Beach Hooray for Hollywood! Hollywood Beach, that is. This sun-splashed mecca has evolved into a must-go-to destination. It's South Beach sans the over-the-top bling-bling -- and a lot more family-friendly. As a teen, I hung out here every...Tags: Restaurant and Catering Industry, Nature, Tourism and Leisure, Ronald Reagan, Canoeing and Kayaking
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Turtle walks bring you to the beach in search of nests
SouthFlorida.comGuided Turtle Walks Through June and July, 8:15-11:30 p.m. Join a park ranger and walk along the beach to see a 3-foot, 300-pound loggerhead sea turtle lay more than 100 eggs in the sand of North Palm Beach. Turtle sightings and good weather are not...Tags: North Palm Beach, Nature, Tourism and Leisure, Gardens and Parks, Juno Beach
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Best Florida parks
Sun-SentinelThese parks have something for everyone -- picnic grounds, swings, slides and more. All of Florida's state parks offer a wide variety of scenery and activities, while the larger regional parks have their own share of attractions. 1. John D. MacArthur...Tags: Tennis, Tourism and Leisure, Water Skiing, Florida's Turnpike, Swimming
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Best places to go kayaking
Sun-SentinelYou don't have to drive for hours or head into the wild to enjoy a kayak outing. In South Florida, there are neighborhood kayaking spots that are close to home and give you a new view of the area. Here are nine great urban kayak outings: Coastal Biscayne...Tags: Office and Retail Spaces, Tourism and Leisure, Gardens and Parks, Heavy Engineering, Canoeing and Kayaking
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Top 10 beaches in South Florida
Sun-SentinelJust heading east until you hit the ocean highway will take any visitor to one of South Florida's famous beaches, but for a little more than just sand and surf try these spots. 1. Crandon Park Beach 4000 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne; 305-361-5421....Tags: Road Transportation, Tourism and Leisure, Gardens and Parks, Swimming, Windsurfing
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10 things we love about John D. MacArthur State Park
South Florida Sun-SentinelFunny, what's in a name. Take John D. MacArthur State Park at the north edge of Singer Island. It's named after the late John D. MacArthur, an eccentric, irascible billionaire who once owned a huge hunk of Palm Beach County, including this park land....Tags: Hotel and Accommodation Industry, Hotels and Accommodations, Rivers, Bodies of Water, Tourism and Leisure
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South Florida Nature Centers
You don't have to go far from home to find a little nature in South Florida. Here are some of the best nature centers and natural areas in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. In addition to the places listed here, all state and national parks,...Tags: Everglades, Tourism and Leisure, Wildlife, Natural Resource Industry, Swimming
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Nine great things to do with vacationing visitors
SouthFlorida.comTis the season when visitors from cooler climates come calling. If you are expecting houseguests, you know one role South Floridians play is as unofficial tour guide. We're here to help. Here are nine activities the staff at SouthFlorida.com think are...Tags: North Palm Beach, Everglades, Whitehall, Tourism and Leisure, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida)
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Guide to Florida turtle walks
SouthFlorida.comEach May, June and July, sea turtles -- one of the world's oldest living creatures -- begin their ancient ritual of crawling onto Florida's moonlit beaches to nest, from Fort Lauderdale to Juno Beach. You can witness this natural wonder on guided...Tags: North Palm Beach, Nature, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida), Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale
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Your Top Beaches
SouthFlorida.comThe sand, the sea, the blue sky -- South Florida is all about the beach. And here are the best beaches as rated you, our readers, from Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach to Miami and more South Florida cities. • Atlantic Dunes Park/Beach > Write your...Tags: Gulfstream, Miami (Miami-Dade, Florida), Lake Worth, Beach Vacations, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Florida)
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