LEXINGTON, Va. — Washington and Lee University mourns the passing of Hall of Fame member James "Jim" McDonald '50, who died on August 16 at the age of 97. A 2018 inductee into the W&L Athletics Hall of Fame, McDonald was a three-sport athlete for the Generals and went on to become one of the most influential contributors to the sport of lacrosse at the national level.
McDonald competed in football, basketball, and lacrosse during his collegiate career, but it was on the lacrosse field where he left his greatest mark. A member of the inaugural varsity squad in 1947, he was among the program's earliest offensive standouts, scoring in the Generals' first-ever varsity contest — a 6-5 win over Penn State. He went on to play attack and midfield for four seasons, recording numerous multi-goal efforts and helping W&L to back-to-back winning seasons in the program's infancy.
As a junior, McDonald earned All-South honors and was selected to the 1949 North-South Senior All-Star Game. He capped his collegiate career with Honorable Mention All-America recognition in 1950, becoming just the sixth player in program history to garner All-America distinction.
Following graduation, McDonald remained a central figure in lacrosse for more than five decades as a coach, administrator, and advocate. He guided the University of Baltimore from 1956–63, posting a 67-15-2 record with four championships, and later dedicated himself to coaching youth and high school players through the St. James Lacrosse Rec Program, which he founded.
McDonald also served the game in leadership roles, including 30 years on the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Selection Committee — 24 of those as chair — and 18 years as a board member for the Lacrosse Foundation, a predecessor to USA Lacrosse. His service included terms as both president and vice president, and he was instrumental in fundraising and development efforts that helped expand the sport nationally.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions, McDonald was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2017), the US Lacrosse Charlottesville Chapter Hall of Fame (1997), the US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame (2005), the University of Baltimore Athletics Hall of Fame (2008), and the Washington and Lee Athletics Hall of Fame (2018).
A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 29, at 11:00 a.m. at St. James Church in Monkton, Md.
