James William McIntire

James William McIntire
James William McIntire, a longtime leader in Savannah business and then for twenty-four years Director of the Commerce office here, died November 24 2002 at Candler Hospital. He was 92. Mr. McIntire, Born October 10, 1910, was the eldest child of Major Francis Percival and Lucy Barrow McIntire. He was descended from James Jackson, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolution and a Representative of the House and the Senate and Governor of Georgia. His great-grandfather, Henry Rootes Jackson, married Cornelia Augusta Davenport and was U. S. Minister to Austria and Mexico. Mr. McIntire was educated at Pape School and at Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Phillips-Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and the University of Georgia, which he entered at age 16. In 1931, he was Captain of Georgias polo team and played in a match against an Army team headed by General George Patton, who as so impressed by his skill that he invited him to play on his team. At the University, he was selected for membership in Sphinx, the highest honor on the campus. As an honor graduate in 1932, he was tapped for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He also belonged to the Gridiron Secret Society and was President of SAE and Cadet Colonel of the ROTC. After graduating, Mr. McIntire joined Southern States Iron Roofing Company as Manager of Naval store sales and, in December of 1945, was promoted to Executive Vice President. He was widely known for his work in developing the use of steel containers in the Naval store industry. He was a Director of The Savannah Bank & Trust Company and a Board member of the Savannah Chamber of Commerce. In 1955, he resigned from Southern States to form Monarch Oil Company. He later owned General Transport, Inc. He left the private sector in 1966 to head the Commerce Departments office in Savannah, seeking potential exporters in 69 southeastern Georgia counties. He retired in 1990 after 24 years in the post. Mr. McIntire was a member of the Rotary Club and a past President of the Propeller Club. He belonged to the Hibernian Society, the St. Andrews Society, and the Oglethorpe Club. He was past President of The Cotillion Club. A member of the Savannah Yacht Club, he was an avid yachtsman. He was a member of the Independent Presbyterian Church. Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Smart McIntire; four children, Cornelia McIntire Hartridge, James William McIntire, Jr., Elizabeth McIntire Rogers, and Lucy McIntire Hitch; brother, Pope Barrow McIntire of Atlanta; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; five nieces; and four nephews. His granddaughters are Elizabeth Hartridge Phillips, Emma Hartridge Svoboda, Carroll Kempner Goldstone, Mary McIntire Davenport, and Sarah Shelton Hitch. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews, James Carroll Kempner II, Thomas Charlton Hartridge, James William Hitch, James William McIntire III, Lamar Spalding, and Oliver Ames Spalding. Visitation: 6:00-8:00 p. m. Friday, November 29, in Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel. Graveside Services: 11:00 a. m. Saturday, November 30, in Bonaventure Cemetery. Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Islands Chapel Savannah Morning News, November 27, 2002

James married.