About the McGlothlins
James W. McGlothlin
W&M '62, J.D. '64, LL.D. '00
Forum Co-Founder
Mr. McGlothlin was born on June 18, 1940 in Buchanan County, Virginia and is the son of the late Woodrow and Sally Ann McGlothlin. Jim was educated in the public schools of Buchanan County and attended William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia where he graduated with an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology (BA - 1962) and a Law Degree from Marshall Wythe School of Law with an LLB/JD in 1964.
Jim returned to his hometown of Grundy, Virginia where he practiced law as a partner in the law firm of Street, Street, & McGlothlin until 1970 when he became Founding Partner of United Coal Company, which later was merged into The United Company, and for the next four decades has served as the Chairman/CEO and now the sole owner of The United Company.
During that time, The United Company owned many subsidiaries such as United Coal Company, United Supply Company, The Roof Center, Birmingham Steel, United Oil & Minerals, United Resources, Star Oil & Gas, United Realty, and Scratch Golf, LLC.
During Mr. McGlothlin's professional business life, he served as a Director on many Boards such as CSX Corporation, Bassett Furniture, Dominion Bankshares, Star Oil & Gas, etc., all of which he has now retired from.
Today Mr. McGlothlin divides his time between business activities and philanthropy. He serves on the Board of Directors of Mountain Mission School (a school for girls and boys in his hometown of Grundy, Virginia), The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the PGA Tour, and is a National Trustee of First Tee.
Mr. McGlothlin lives in Naples, Florida and Bristol, Virginia with his wife Frances Gibson McGlothlin '66, L.H.D. '18. Together they have three children and six grandchildren.
Frances G. McGlothlin
W&M '66, L.H.D. '18
Forum Co-Founder
Mrs. McGlothlin is a philanthropist whose generosity has benefited many arts, medical and educational institutions.
A native of Leesburg, Virginia, McGlothlin has remained closely connected with the university, serving as its first lady during Paul Verkuil's presidency. In that role, she was an advocate for faculty, staff and
students with children and was a leader in the effort that established the Campus Child Care Center - made possible largely thanks to McGlothlin's fundraising efforts.
McGlothlin and her husband, James W. McGlothlin '62, J.D. '64, LL.D. '00, also established the university's McGlothlin Leadership Forum at William & Mary, which offers students the chance to learn from some of the nation's preeminent leaders in business and law. The couple has endowed McGlothlin Scholars at the business and law schools, to recruit students of compelling ability. They have also established the McGlothlin Stadium. In 2012, the McGlothlins served as the grand marshals for W&M's Homecoming parade. They are currently honorary co-chairs of the university's For the Bold campaign, which aims to strengthen alumni engagement, achieve 40 percent alumni participation and raise $1 billion for W&M.
Fran McGlothlin has been a strong supporter of the Mountain Mission School, which provides at-risk youth with an exceptional educational experience in a nurturing environment. The McGlothlins have also been significant supporters of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and its School of Medicine. Its new medical education center is named in their honor.
Fran McGlothlin's love of American art also led her and her husband to assemble one of the leading private collections in the country. She is the senior vice president of UC Fine Art, Inc. in New York and has served on the boards of arts organizations, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, to which she and Jim have bequeathed their art collection.
Fran McGlothlin is a board member of the United Company Foundation and the James W. Frances G. McGlothlin Foundation.
