McDonald, James M.

James M. McDonald, 1881-1956 was a retailing executive with the J.C. Penney Company before he established the McDonald Company, a department store chain in the midwest. In 1937, he bought a 1,700 acre farm in Cortland County where he maintained a herd of 500 Guernsey cattle, winning national and New York State awards. To recognize Cornell's contributions to the dairy industry, he provided in his will for the transfer of his farm, cattle, and equipment to the university, which operated the farm until 1967. Proceeds from the sale went to a fund to support the development of the McDonald herd which became the basis of Cornell's dairy facility at Harford, N.Y. and for research in cattle breeding.