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A Tractor Salesman is what he
called himself. Roads and the machinery that built them were part of his life
growing up in rural Wisconsin. His father, EW MacAllister, worked for the county
highway department and became adept at building and maintaining roads. This led
to a job with Drott Tractor, the local Caterpillar dealer. EW was a natural
salesman and rose through the ranks to become Sales Manager and then General
Manager. The MacAllister family moved to Milwaukee in 1930 where the company’s
headquarters was located. Ed Drott had 3 sons in the business. EW could see the
handwriting on the wall so took advantage of an opportunity to open his own
dealership for Allis Chalmers in Indianapolis in 1941. Fast forward to 1945,
when PE mustered out of the military and came to his parents’ home in
Indianapolis. His Father asked him what he was going to do. PE shrugged and
said, “Go back to Milwaukee and get a job teaching, I suppose.” His Dad
indicated he could use some help starting a new business, as Caterpillar had
asked him to become their dealer for most of Indiana. Would PE like to give him
a hand? He did, and the rest is history.
Born on August 30, 1918 in Oconto, Wisconsin, 26 miles north of Green Bay,
Pershing was named after General John J. Pershing, the WW I hero. Not infatuated
with the name, young Pershing preferred Persh, Mac, or PE. He grew up during the
Great Depression with a younger brother (by 2 years) named David. His father had
a good job, so the family was better off than many. Frugality and
self-sufficiency were required by the times and reinforced through his Scottish
Presbyterian upbringing. PE was an average student and played the clarinet in
high school. His mother, Hilda, was a homemaker and many relatives lived close
by. Family was a big influence all his life. After high school, PE enrolled in
Carroll College, a liberal arts institution, studying English and History with
the intent of becoming a teacher. He graduated in 1940. The war was raging in
Europe and it looked like the United States would enter. Like most young men of
the day, he enlisted in the military. On October 25, 1941 he was shipped off to
basic training. He remembered hearing about the attack on Pearl Harbor while
listening to the radio in his car. Fortunately, he “washed out” of flight school
(a pilot’s life expectancy was poor) and instead became an armament officer,
responsible for arming a squadron of P-38 fighters. Stationed initially in the
US, then England, PE spent a couple years in North Africa before finishing in
Italy with the rank of Captain. In total he spent almost 5 years in the Army Air
Force, earning 4 Overseas Service Bars and a Presidential Unit Citation. How he
picked up the nickname “Prune” was never quite clear.
Back from Italy but still in the service, PE met a Southern Belle named Violet
Rebecca Cochran while he was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. They were married
on May 17, 1945. Four children followed between 1946 and 1956: three girls and a
boy.
On June 2, 1945, while still in uniform, PE traveled with EW to Peoria where
MacAllister Machinery Co. Inc. was officially named the Caterpillar Tractor
dealer for 68 of the 92 counties in Indiana. PE’s college degree and military
training hardly prepared him for his first job in the new company — Stock
Chaser. He learned the business from the bottom up, serving as a parts
warehouseman, mechanic, and salesman. Brother Dave joined the business later in
1945. One day in 1951, PE’s father came to him saying, “I don’t feel right, so I
am going to the doctor’s office to get checked out.” He never returned, having
suffered a series of strokes that eventually left him crippled for the rest of
his life. The 6-year-old business was suddenly dumped in PE and Dave’s hands.
They ran it together for 30 years and did well. Son Chris assumed control in
1991, and PE remained as Chairman. The business grew to cover 2 states and
employ 2500 people. PE continued to report for work every day, keeping in touch
with customers, employees, Caterpillar, and the financial results. Not many can
brag about 74 years of service to their employer. He co-published and wrote the
lead article for 170 issues of Mac Today, the company newsletter, published
since 1986. His mixing of history and the tractor business won acclaim and
thousands of readers. The strong values and principles he inherited from his
father, plus his own massive sense of responsibility, spotless integrity, strong
work ethic (always in on Saturday mornings) and compassion for those less
fortunate, form the basis of the eponymous firm’s culture and values today.
As a devout Presbyterian, PE and family were regulars at Northminister
Presbyterian Church. He found religion fascinating, and he began to read about
it. He became active in his church, serving as Elder, Deacon, and Trustee. That
wasn’t enough so he joined the Indianapolis Presbytery, the church’s governing
body and twice served as its Moderator. He was the Moderator of the Synod of
Indiana (1972) and Moderator of the Synod of Lincoln Trails (1975). He served on
the Board of Trustees at Christian Theological Seminary including 9 years as
Chairman. He also served and was chair of the Inner-City Strategy Committee who
worked with churches in the city, as opposed to the suburbs. He became a scholar
of the Old Testament and authored a book on the subject titled “Tongue of the
Nursling.” Along with Dick Petticrew, PE created “The MacAllister-Petticrew
Chair” of Old Testament Studies at Christian Theological Seminary. PE also
endowed “A Chair in Old Testament” at Carroll College. His lay understanding of
the Bible was evident when each July for 10 years he preached in Protestant
churches.
An interest in history came early and formed the basis of his college studies.
His study of the bible and religion lead to an interest in archaeology. He
joined the Board of the American Schools of Oriental Research, which monitors
and authenticates archaeological excavations in the Middle East. For 19 years,
he chaired their Board. He visited the Holy Land several times, and armed with a
tray of 35mm slides, would speak to whoever was interested in that historic
land. He knew ancient history and could talk knowledgeably about the Hittites
and Hammurabi. He was well-versed on the miracle of ancient Athens and how the
Greeks added so much to modern civilization. He could tell you about each of the
12 Roman Caesars and why Augustus was the best. The Medici were favorites, and
he tried to replicate their Renaissance in Indianapolis. He knew early American
history, the Civil War, and wrote a series of essays on the Bicentennial. In
1987 he wrote a second series on the Constitutional Convention. He took his kids
to Washington D.C, England, France, Italy, and Greece to educate them on world
history. He was a walking encyclopedia of the past and was able to extract the
best of any era and apply it to current situations.
It was Harold Ransburg who initially got PE interested in politics. PE also met
and got to know John Burkhart, whom he credits with the renaissance of Indiana
politics. Keith Bullen was another friend and influential figure. An early
venture into politics was the Mayoral campaign of Richard Lugar in 1967. It was
Lugar who accelerated the Public-Private Partnership coupling local government
with the business community to set priorities and get things done. PE served as
Campaign Chairman for Bill Hudnut (4 times) and for Bruce Melchert. He was a
Presidential Elector in 1976, 1980, and 2000. Usually behind the scenes and with
little interest in holding office himself, PE set about improving the process,
structure, candidates, and quality of local government. He founded the Greater
Indianapolis Republican Finance Committee and The Chairman’s Club, fund raising
arms for city/county races. He supported scores of candidates over the years
financially, strategically, and with sage advice.
Reviving Indianapolis was a major goal for the city “Movers and Shakers” in the
1960s. PE was in the middle of this renaissance. One of his proudest
accomplishments was the Conference on Cities, an international symposium on
urban problems in collaboration with NATO, held in Indianapolis, May 1971. PE
served as Director and produced a program that was very well received by Mayor
Lugar and his peers from around the world. All in the corn fields of
“India-no-place.” PE also served on the Capital Improvements Board for 17 years,
including a stint as Chairman. He helped construct the Convention Center & RCA
Dome. This led to the Colts relocating to Indianapolis, a major coup. He has
rarely missed a game since. Downtown began to revive, the city was on the move.
Civic activities were important to PE. He served on the board of the Community
Hospital Foundation, and on the Board of Public Safety. He founded the
Indianapolis Parks Foundation, and served as its Chairman for many years. He was
a member of the Corporate Community Council Board, Guardian Home Foundation
Advisory Board, served on the Indiana Inter-Religious Commission on Human
Equality, was a member of the Indiana Historical Society, the Indianapolis
Committee on Foreign Relations, the Marion County Land Valuation Commission and
the American Council of Learned Societies. He served on the Indiana Bicentennial
Commission. All this while running the tractor business.
Loyal to the core, PE never forgot his alma mater, Carroll College. He served on
its board for 52 years and was Chairman for 17 years. He was President of his
industry trade association, the Associated Equipment Distributors, and even
found time to chair the homeowners’ association at the condo he maintained in
Naples, Florida. What made him most recognizable to Indianapolis residents were
the 1200 weekly one-hour television shows which ran for 40 years, featuring
interviews of interesting people, tours of noteworthy sites and reports on
events, organizations and activities.
Since playing the clarinet, PE was interested in music. His ongoing love of
opera was the impetus behind The MacAllister Awards, the nation’s largest
non-restricted vocal competition for opera singers. Past winners continue to
appear on the world’s greatest stages. PE was President of the Indianapolis
Opera Company and a Board Member of the Indiana State Symphony Society. He
served as Vice Chair of the Edyvean Repertory Theatre Board and was a member of
the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts. For 39 years he supported the
Fine Arts Society (classical music radio station), including serving as its
President. While his musical abilities were marginal, his love of music was a
lifelong passion.
He delivered sermons, did extensive public speaking, was a voracious reader, and
a prodigious movie watcher. Westerns and action films were his favorites. He
enjoyed the game of golf and played until a few years ago. His last handicap was
26 and his home course was Meridian Hills Country Club, where he was a member
for 73 years. He never made a hole in one — a fact he regretted — but he won
many a $2 bet on the back nine. A Hendricks gin martini, very very very dry, up,
with an olive, was his favorite cocktail. A cold beer, glass of Riesling, Cuba
Libra and Sweet Manhattan on the rocks were regulars. His recipes for chili,
spare ribs, and spaghetti were legendary. He maintained a running battle with
squirrels and chipmunks who invaded his birdfeeder, threatening them with a
22-caliber rifle. His wonderful, tolerant, faithful first wife Becky died in
2001. Lonesome for a couple of years, PE married Fran Downing in 2003. They
lived happily together until she predeceased him in 2017.
Far from flawless, PE was more serious than emotional. He was sometimes slow to
say thank you or to recognize the unseen work of those around him. He missed a
lot of dinners at home and didn’t display great empathy. He avoided
confrontation and was often the last one still eating at the table. He could be
verbose and sometimes used big words when little ones worked as well. He liked
the limelight, although didn’t seek it out.
On the positive side, he was so generous! Beneficent! He made a lot of money in
the tractor business and gave it all away. Never one for fancy cars, expensive
hobbies, or flashy jewelry, he lived modestly in the same house for 58 years.
For over 70 years, he donated to hundreds of charitable and civic institutions,
to politicians, to little league teams, to friends in need. He was generous to
his family, his college, the Republican party, and his church. He gave his time
and energy too, serving on countless boards, coaching wanna-be politicians,
writing, speaking, and doing TV shows. He adhered to the mantra, “To whom much
has been given, much will be required”. He followed the ancient proverb, “Honor
your gods, help your friends, and adorn your city”.
PE did so much for so many. He was continually recognized for his service.
Indiana State University, Christian Theological Seminary and Carroll College
awarded him honorary degrees. Other awards are listed below:
Awards
“Industry Leadership” Award – Associated Equipment Distributors, 1974
“Wings of Hope” Award – Wings of Hope, 1976
“Directors Award for Industry Leadership” – Indiana Contractors, Inc., 1982
“Service to Mankind” Award – Sertoma, 1984
“Board Member of the Year” – Republican Finance Committee, 1987
“Spirit of Life” Award – City of Hope, 1987
“Excellence in Education” Award – Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, 1989
“Diploma of Honor” – Fine Arts Society for Service to the Arts, 1989
“Benjamin Harrison Award” – Columbia Club, 1989
“Certificate of Special Merit” – American Schools of Oriental Research, 1994
“Hoosier Heritage Night” – The Heritage Place of Indianapolis, 1996
Entrepreneur of the Year “Community Spirit Award” – Ernst & Young LLP, 1996
“Philanthropist of the Year” – Indianapolis Parks Foundation, 1997
“Distinguished Alumni Award” – Carroll College, 1998
“Indiana Academy Award” – Independent Colleges of Indiana, 1998
“Guardian Angel Award” – Children’s Guardian Home, 2001
“Democracy Award” – Associated Equipment Distributors, 2002
“Indiana Business Hall of Fame” – Junior Achievement, 2002
“Arts Council of Indianapolis” – 2003
“Trustee of the Year Award” – Carroll College, 2004
“Spirit of Philanthropy Award” – Indiana University, 2005
“Sagamore of the Wabash Award” – Gov. Otis Bowen
“Sagamore of the Wabash Award” – Gov. Bob Orr
“Sagamore of the Wabash Award” – Gov. Mitch Daniels, 2012
“Philanthropy Award” – Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, 2005
“Presidents’ Circle” – Indiana University – 2008
“Michael A. Carroll Award” – 2008
“Whistler Award” – 2008
“John Morton-Finney Award” – 2009
“Living Legends Award” – 2009
“YPO-WPO Legacy Award” – 2011
“Service to Mankind Award” – Marian University
“CASE” Award, 2014
“Sachem Award” (one awarded per year) – Gov. Mike Pence, 2014
“Good Scout Award” – Crossroads Chapter BSA, 2014
“Founders Award” – Republican Leadership Forum, 2015
“Reactivation Award” – 71st Training Squadron, 2015
“Sagamore of the Wabash Award” – Gov. Mike Pence, 2017
“Sagamore of the Wabash Award” – Gov. Eric Holcomb, 2017 & 2018
PE is survived by daughters Laurie and Sandy and son Chris, grandchildren Tyler,
Ian, Casey, Alex, nd Laurel, great-grandchildren Emmitt, Elliot, and a new
great-granddaughter. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to
Friends of Garfield Park or The Wheeler Mission.
Shalom!
Link
http://www.macallister.com/about/pe-macallister |
