Fort Walton Machining Owner Lost When T-6 Went Down In The Gulf Of Mexico

Tim McDonald had owned Fort Walton Machining for 13 years, and by many accounts was the company's driving force. He was the chief marketer, personally involved in business development, and invested heavily in the company to be sure its people and equipment were top-notch.

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So it's no surprise that when McDonald was fatally injured when his T-6 Texan went down in the Gulf of Mexico July 2nd, it left a major void at the top of the org chart.

But McDonald's family has regrouped and moved ahead, keeping Fort Walton Machining alive and thriving. McDonald's son, also named Tim, said the accident made the company pull together and work harder. "Everyone felt that they needed to pick up the slack," the younger McDonald told the Northwest Florida Daily News. "It just made us drive a little harder toward the end goal."

The company is now overseen by a seven-member board of directors, which includes McDonald's widow, his son, Greg Britton, the company's general manager and senior vice president, along with four others. The elder McDonald, who already had his retirement well in the works, had mapped out a succession plan which turned over the company to Britton and his son. In 2007, he had placed the company in a trust, leaving it to his family in the event of his death. The family said selling it was not even considered after the accident.

Fort Walton Machining has about 60 clients, according to the paper, including Boeing, L-3 Communications, and Lockheed Martin. The company is projecting growth of about 19 percent this year, despite the accident and the economy, and is building a new metal-finishing facility in the Fort Walton Beach Commerce Technology Park.

FMI: www.fwmachining.com