Roy McDonald
Roy McDonald once said, “Son, my job is to report the news and not make it.” For over a half century Mr. Roy, as he was known, published the Chattanooga News Free Press. Mr. Roy died June 19, 1990, at his Lookout Mountain home. He was 88.
The grocery store owner turned newspaper publisher also served for 20 years as Erlanger Hospital board chairman. During that time he started Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, serving as its chairman for 45 years.
When Mr. Roy left the paper to go home on a hot summer Monday afternoon, he told News Editor David Cooper he didn’t feel well. Mr. Roy died the next morning, shortly before he was to leave for work.
The Central High School graduate rarely made speeches or gave interviews, but his good friend and circulation manager Curtis Adams convinced him to go to Tennessee Temple University to meet with Dr. Lee Roberson.
Mr. Roy was surprised when he learned Highland Park Baptist Church and Tennessee Temple University were preparing to honor him.
Mr. Roy hurriedly made some notes for an extemporaneous talk that lasted about 12 minutes. Click here to listen to Mr. Roy’s rare comments, delivered at TTU on Oct. 24, 1984.