Eugene F. McDonald was born in Syracuse, New York back in 1886 to Frazier and Betty. Earning his money while a schoolboy reading electric meters. He quit school at the end of his sophomore year taking a factory job with the Franklin Automobile Company. He moved to Chicago in 1904 where he worked as an automobile salesman.
In 1911, he was in partnership in Detroit selling used cars, by the end of 1912 he began a credit finance company for the purchase of new and used card. He was the first to offer working people a payment plan for the purchase of an automobile.
When the United States entered World War I he enlisted in Naval Intelligence rising through the ranks becoming a lieutenant commander. In 1919, he served in the Naval Reserves unit 1939. He died in 1958, he was 72.
What you may not know about Eugene is that he founded Zenith Radio in 1921, he also formed and was the first president of the National Association of Broadcasters. He was a pioneer in the development of the short-wave radio. He also coined the slogan “The quality goes in before the name goes on”.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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