Trustee Spotlight
Douglas McDonald is the CEO and Chairman of the Board at McDonald Automotive Group, a privately owned family business operating twelve dealerships, a reconditioning center, and a collision center across Colorado. As a second-generation auto dealer, Doug has been instrumental in the company's remarkable growth over the past 65 years.
Doug's journey in the automotive industry began early, inspired by his father, Stanley. Stanley started selling Dodges two years out of high school in Yakima, Washington in 1926. Stanley then bought his own Dodge Store in Roswell, New Mexico in 1949 where Doug joined the family business. In 1958, they were awarded the second Volkswagen franchise in New Mexico. After success in New Mexico, they sold their two stores and moved to Littleton, Colorado where they were awarded the third Volkswagen franchise in Colorado. McDonald Automotive has been established in Littleton ever since. Today, the group is blessed to have twelve stores and over 850 employees. Doug works closely with three of his sons and a few of the fourth generation every day.
Following his passion for the automotive business, Doug pursued a degree in Business at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1961 with a B.B.A. It was during his time at OU that he met his wife, Linda, who also graduated with a B.A. The couple married in 1960, were married over 60 years. They have five sons and daughters-in-law, which led to eighteen grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Doug has made contributions to the automotive industry, being inducted into Colorado Auto Dealers Associations’ Hall of Fame, serving as the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, and District Director of the Colorado Auto Dealers Association. Nationally, he twice held the position of Chairman of the US Volkswagen Dealer Council. In recognition of his achievements, Time Magazine and the National Automobile Dealers Association honored him with the 1991 Quality Dealer Award for Colorado.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Doug is committed to his Christian faith. He has served on the Board of Regents at Colorado Christian University and is a Board Member of both Orchard Road Christian Center and Marilyn Hickey Ministries. Doug and Linda have been active members of the Happy Church - Orchard Road Christian Center since 1982, where they taught a premarital class for six years.
Their faith has also led them on numerous missionary journeys with Marilyn Hickey, traveling to countries such as China (12 Times), Russia (10 Times), Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Argentina, and Brazil over the past 25 years.
Doug's life is a testament to his dedication to both his career and his faith, embodying the values of hard work, family, and service to others.