William Madison McDonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Madison McDonald
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| Born | June 22, 1866 |
| Died | July 5, 1950 (aged 84) |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Gibson |
| Children | 1 son |
William Madison McDonald (born June 22, 1866 – died July 5, 1950) was a very important American politician, businessman, and banker in Texas during the late 1800s and early 1900s. People sometimes called him "Gooseneck Bill." He was a key leader in the Republican Party in Texas and worked hard to help African Americans.
McDonald also led two important Black community groups, including serving as a top leader for the Masons in Texas for 50 years. In 1906, he started Fort Worth's first bank owned by African Americans. This bank was very successful and even survived the Great Depression, a time when many banks failed. McDonald used the bank to help Black business owners get loans, and he became one of the first Black millionaires in Texas.
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Early Life and Learning
William Madison McDonald was born on June 22, 1866, in College Mound, Texas. This was just over a year after the American Civil War ended. His father, George McDonald, had been a slave from Tennessee. His mother, Flora Scott McDonald, was also a former slave from Alabama. George McDonald worked as a farmer and a blacksmith.
When William was a teenager, he worked for a rancher and lawyer named Captain Z. T. Adams. Captain Adams saw how smart William was and taught him a lot about business and law. After finishing high school in 1884, William went to Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee. This college was started by a church to educate African Americans in the South, and it helped many Black leaders get an education.
Building a Career
After college, McDonald returned to Texas and became the principal of an African-American high school in Forney, Texas. At that time, schools were often separated by race. Education was very important to formerly enslaved people and their children. McDonald later married Alice Gibson, who was also a teacher at his school. He also helped organize a state fair for Black people in North Texas.
Getting Involved in Politics
McDonald became very active in the Republican Party. He encouraged Black people to vote and helped organize the party in his area. In 1892, he was chosen to be on the Republican Party's state committee in Texas. For more than 30 years, he was a powerful figure in state politics. He became a leader of a group called the "Black and Tan" faction, which was made up of African Americans within the Republican Party. He worked with a white businessman named Ned Green, who supported the "Black and Tan" group.
At a big Republican meeting in 1896, a reporter gave McDonald the nickname "Gooseneck Bill." Later, laws were passed in Texas that made it much harder for Black people to vote, like requiring them to pay a special tax to vote. This greatly reduced the number of Black voters.
Leading Community Groups
Besides politics, McDonald was very involved in Black community organizations, which grew quickly after the Civil War. In 1890, he joined the Prince Hall Freemasonry, a Black Masonic group. In 1899, he became the Grand Secretary of the African-American Texas Masons. This was a very important leadership role. Under his guidance, the Masons started several businesses, including a cotton mill, a magazine, and an insurance service for members. They also opened a bank in Fort Worth. McDonald stayed as the Grand Secretary for 50 years.
Starting a Bank
McDonald moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1906. There, he became the manager of the Fraternal Bank and Trust Company. This bank was started by the Masons and was the first bank in Fort Worth owned by African Americans. Many Black Masonic groups in Texas used this bank. With their deposits, McDonald had money to lend to African-American business owners. This was very important because it was hard for Black people to get loans from banks owned by white people during that time.
Under McDonald's leadership, the bank was very strong. It even survived the Great Depression, a time in the 1930s when many banks closed down. Because of his success, McDonald was likely the first Black millionaire in Texas.
McDonald died on July 5, 1950, in Fort Worth. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Legacy and Honors
In 2002, the town of Forney, Texas, put up a historical marker to honor William Madison McDonald and his achievements. The marker says that throughout his life, McDonald was a leader who fought for fairness and encouraged people to be responsible and work for equality.
