William Madison McDonald
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(June 22, 1866 - July 4, 1950) Born in Kaufman County, William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald became active in politics in 1890. His ability to unite Black and White voters led to his prominence as a leader of the "Black and Tan" faction of the Republican Party. He remained influential, serving as a delegate to many state and national conventions, until the decline of the Republican Party in Texas in the early 1900s. Also active in black Masonic societies, he served as state secretary for 47 years. He moved to Fort Worth in 1906, founded the Fraternal Bank and Trust Company, and was a prominent civic leader. (1982)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Kaufman County in 1866, William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald entered politics in 1890 and rose to lead the "Black and Tan" faction of the Texas Republican Party, prized for his ability to unite Black and White voters. He served as a delegate to numerous state and national conventions and was a Black Masonic leader for 47 years. After moving to Fort Worth in 1906 he founded the Fraternal Bank and Trust Company and became a leading civic figure.
Why it matters
McDonald's career illuminates the political power and economic institution-building of Black Texans in the decades before the civil rights era.
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