James P. McGrath '69

Jim is a proud Class of 1969 graduate of Bishop Kearney. He said that his class is the one that “filled up the school” when he started at BK. His classmates were the incoming Freshman when the 1966 Pioneer Class were Seniors. The school opened in 1962 with only a Freshman class, adding a Freshman class every year after that until all class years were filled. Jim played basketball, baseball, Varsity Football and ran track while he was at BK. He was also a member of the Biology Club and the Spanish National Honor Society.

 

Jim spent his professional life in sales, selling raw materials to manufacturing companies. He was also a partner in a local start up that produced food packaging materials. That company grew to employ 125 people in its heyday. Jim said his entire business life was a great, albeit challenging, way to make a living and he loved every minute of it.

 

Jim joined the Bishop Kearney Board of Directors in 2000 and served eight years on the Finance Committee. He left for a short time and was drawn back to the Board in 2010 for another 4 years. Jim said his greatest reward was helping to keep Bishop Kearney financially solvent, being able to successfully educate students and to provide scholarship opportunities for children who couldn’t afford to attend BK without them.

 

Jim says he is so fortunate in his life. He and his wife, Joan, have four children and eight grandchildren. Jim is an avid golfer and he and Joan divide their time between Rochester, Fort Meyers, FL and a summer place in the Adirondacks.

 

Jim has retired from his full time career and from his seat on the Board, yet he continues to support BK. He is excited to see the evolution of Bishop Kearney over the past several years. He is very happy to see the renewal of the Hall of Fame and is very grateful for this honor.