James Henry McGraw III ’50

Jim died of a heart attack in Hobe Sound, Fla., Feb. 12, 2003, two days before his 75th birthday.

Coming from Deerfield, Jim majored in chemistry, was on the Nassau Lit business board, and belonged to Cottage Club. After Princeton, he received a master's in industrial management from MIT.

He served as an Air Force lieutenant from 1953-55, then joined the Old Town Corp., where he was elected president in 1960, and remained as CEO until 1966. He became involved with educational services until 1970, when he started a company that published books and music and produced films and music tapes. He later worked as a private investor.

A longtime resident of Short Hills, N.J., Jim summered in Lake Placid, which he first visited 70 years ago. His father, James '15, was president of McGraw-Hill; his grandfather had founded the company. An accomplished musician and songwriter, Jim wrote at our 25th that he enjoyed "playing the piano whenever asked, and often when not." Along with music, his passions were his family and his golden retrievers.

We extend condolences to his wife, Allola; daughter Virginia; sons James, Scott, David; and eight grandchildren.

The Class of 1950