Thursday, June 17, 2010 Retired GM President, F. James McDonald, dies at 87
 F. James McDonald, who served as president and chief operating officer of General Motors Corp. throughout most of the 1980s, died Sunday, June 13th 2010. McDonald’s career spanned the post World War II auto boom, when GM grew to dominate the U.S. car market until his retirement on August 31st 1987.
As president, McDonald made improving GM quality a top priority that let to creation of the UAW-GM Quality Network. Before that, he was executive vice president and member of the GM board with responsibility for car and truck, body and assembly, electrical components, mechanical components and overseas operations. He served as general manager for the Pontiac Motor Division from February 1969 through October 1972, when he became general manager of Chevrolet Motor Division, until he was named executive vice president and a member of the board in December 1974.
Born on August 3rd 1922, he attended the General Motors Institute, now Kettering University, in Flint, Michigan. Upon graduation, he became an engineering officer in the submarine service and served aboard two submarines in the Pacific Theater.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, June 16th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach, Fla. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 17th, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach. A visitation will also take place at the A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak, Michigan., on Sunday, June 20thm from 4:00 to 7 p.m., with a mass at St. Hugo of the Hills Church, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on Monday, June 21 at 11:00 a.m.
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