Eulogy
Occasionally there pass among us people of towering achievement in their business or professional calling.
Occasionally there pass among us people of deep and demonstrable commitment to making the world a better place.
Only rarely do those two admirable attributes form a confluence in one person. Jim McLamore was such a person.
Born, raised, and educated in New York, Jim met Nancy at Cornell and understandably fell in love. They married 49 years ago, and settled in Miami, to its eternal good fortunes. As our friend Jim Adamson will describe more fully, Jim co-founded Burger King and followed a dream of quality, value, and service of global success, a whopper of a story, much told and celebrated.
Retiring young as a CEO, although remaining active in business on the boards of Pillsbury, Ryder, and Lennar, Jim dedicated the rest of his life to a good cause, notably in our community; the Orange Bowl Committee, the United Way, The McLamore Children’s Center, Channel 2, Fairchild Tropical Garden, the latter of two of which he loved and led, and the one I know best, the University of Miami.
For 23 years, Jim was a trustee of the University, fully one-third of the University’s life. For 10 years he was chairman, the longest term ever, and in the 1980s, he chaired the Campaign for the University of Miami which raised $517.5 million, then the third largest philanthropic effort in American history. (Jim never let us forget the last half million, because we worked so hard on each of those dollars.)
For that distinguished service, the entire University of Miami family will forever be grateful. Jim may be the only board chairman ever to have named after him a faculty senate’s most prestigious award for outstanding service.
To civic leadership, Jim McLamore brought the same talents, commitment, and tenacity that built a great company. No meeting was too early for Jim not to be there on time, no task too small or onerous for Jim to duck it.
His leadership was steady, quiet, and strong -- but gentle -- characterized always by absolute integrity and a special was of warmth with people.
Jim was at ease with everyone and he put others instantly at ease. He commanded respect and returned it in full measure, and we loved him.
Each of us this morning cherishes the memories of Jim as a colleague and friend. Mine began in 1980, when I first met Jim as chairman of the University of Miami board and chairman of the search committee to find the University’s fourth president.
Now in my 16th year in that wonderful job, I have treasured the privilege of working closely for countless hours with Jim in the building of a great American University.
I have never known a finer man.
Jim was wise and good and humorous and kind and fun to be around, especially in his beloved garden.
A visitor to the McLamore’s on the weekend would find Jim in his garden, one of the most beautiful places in Florida, hands black with dirt, his old clothes soaked, and a smile of pride on his face as he described his latest project to improve the already perfect.
In golf, he also approached perfection, to the frustration of his many friends who ended most matches with Jim lighter in the wallet, but appreciating the lesson.
No recollection of Jim’s good life would be complete without Nancy. Jim and she were a splendid couple. She has given equally of her time, her energy, and her grace to serving others. Jim would be the first to acknowledge that his uncommon achievements would not have been possible without Nancy, herself a much beloved and accomplished friend.
On behalf of us all, to Nancy and their four wonderful children, and their grandchildren, I extend sympathy and affection.
We gather this morning to celebrate the life of a great friend of whom it can truly be said that he was a great man.
Jim McLamore enriched our lives.
The institutions he touched and led are immeasurably stronger because of him, and the world is indeed a better place for his remarkable pilgrimage.
Jim’s son, Whit, reminded me yesterday that his dad would frequently end his speeches to Burger King colleagues by saying, “thanks for being my friend.”
Thanks for being our friend, Jim, and thanks for everything.
Tad Foote, President of the University of Miami (Aug 12, 1996)
