John McShain was an American building contractor known as "The Man Who Built Washington".
16 Facts About John McShain
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John McShain later graduated from La Salle University, earning a bachelor's degree.
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John McShain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 21,1896.
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John McShain's father founded a successful construction company, which he was forced to take over at age 21 following his father's death in 1919.
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John McShain started the John McShain Charities as his philanthropy arm.
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In 1952, John McShain established Barclay Stable in the United States and in 1955 expanded its operations to Ireland.
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John McShain owned the filly Gladness, who had victories in the Goodwood Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup.
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John McShain served on the Board of Directors of a number of major American corporations and educational institutions including St Joseph's University, Catholic University, and Georgetown University.
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John McShain attended St Joseph's Preparatory School, an urban Jesuit high school in North Philadelphia.
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John McShain was a benefactor to La Salle University, his alma mater.
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John McShain helped plan the construction of La Salle's original academic building, College Hall.
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La Salle University has a student award named after John McShain, given out annually.
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The John McShain Award is offered to a member of the senior class who maintained an excellent scholastic record and is considered by faculty and staff to have done the most for the public welfare of La Salle.
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Five years later, John McShain sold Killarney House and the greater part of the estate to the Irish State for a price well below market value, having been assured that the house and estate would be incorporated into Killarney National Park.
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John McShain died in 1989 and his wife lived in the house until her death in 1998, when the house and surrounding land reverted to the Irish State.
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Pauline John McShain died on March 8,2019, from complications of pneumonia.