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John McShain
John McShain (December 21, 1896 – September 9, 1989) was an American building contractor known as "The Man Who Built Washington".
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants, McShain graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1918 after having attended La Salle College High School for several years. He later graduated from La Salle University, earning a bachelor's degree.
McShain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 21, 1896. His father founded a successful construction company, which he was forced to take over at age 21 following his father's death in 1919.
Under McShain's management, the company became one of the leading builders in the United States.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, the company worked on more than 100 buildings in the Washington metropolitan area. The company built or was the prime contractor for a number of landmark structures, including the Pentagon, the Jefferson Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Library of Congress annex, Washington National Airport, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and the 1949–1952 reconstruction of the White House. McShain also built the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York.
His career as a building contractor garnered McShain significant wealth. He started the John McShain Charities as his philanthropy arm. McShain acquired the Barclay Hotel on Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square and became part owner of the Skyscraper By The Sea, the 400-room Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In 1952, John McShain established Barclay Stable in the United States and in 1955 expanded its operations to Ireland. Based in New Jersey, his racing stable met with reasonable success at New York State tracks and Monmouth Park in New Jersey, notably with Turbo Jet II. However, his greatest racing success came in Europe, where in 1958 he was the British flat racing Champion Owner. McShain's colt Ballymoss won numerous prestigious races including Ireland's Irish Derby Stakes, England's St. Leger Stakes and France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Ballymoss was voted 1958 European Horse of the Year honors and in 1981 the Republic of Ireland honored him with his image on a postage stamp. McShain also owned the filly Gladness, who had victories in the Goodwood Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup.
A devout Roman Catholic, McShain was a major benefactor to Wheeling Jesuit University. In 2000, the newly constructed admissions center was dedicated to the memory of him and his wife. McShain served on the Board of Directors of a number of major American corporations and educational institutions including St. Joseph's University, Catholic University, and Georgetown University. John also attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School, an urban Jesuit high school in North Philadelphia.
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John McShain
John McShain (December 21, 1896 – September 9, 1989) was an American building contractor known as "The Man Who Built Washington".
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants, McShain graduated from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1918 after having attended La Salle College High School for several years. He later graduated from La Salle University, earning a bachelor's degree.
McShain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 21, 1896. His father founded a successful construction company, which he was forced to take over at age 21 following his father's death in 1919.
Under McShain's management, the company became one of the leading builders in the United States.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, the company worked on more than 100 buildings in the Washington metropolitan area. The company built or was the prime contractor for a number of landmark structures, including the Pentagon, the Jefferson Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Library of Congress annex, Washington National Airport, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and the 1949–1952 reconstruction of the White House. McShain also built the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York.
His career as a building contractor garnered McShain significant wealth. He started the John McShain Charities as his philanthropy arm. McShain acquired the Barclay Hotel on Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square and became part owner of the Skyscraper By The Sea, the 400-room Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In 1952, John McShain established Barclay Stable in the United States and in 1955 expanded its operations to Ireland. Based in New Jersey, his racing stable met with reasonable success at New York State tracks and Monmouth Park in New Jersey, notably with Turbo Jet II. However, his greatest racing success came in Europe, where in 1958 he was the British flat racing Champion Owner. McShain's colt Ballymoss won numerous prestigious races including Ireland's Irish Derby Stakes, England's St. Leger Stakes and France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Ballymoss was voted 1958 European Horse of the Year honors and in 1981 the Republic of Ireland honored him with his image on a postage stamp. McShain also owned the filly Gladness, who had victories in the Goodwood Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup.
A devout Roman Catholic, McShain was a major benefactor to Wheeling Jesuit University. In 2000, the newly constructed admissions center was dedicated to the memory of him and his wife. McShain served on the Board of Directors of a number of major American corporations and educational institutions including St. Joseph's University, Catholic University, and Georgetown University. John also attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School, an urban Jesuit high school in North Philadelphia.