Car dealer had passion for flying

His name is nearly synonymous with auto sales in the greater Chicago area.

Leo McGrath turned an Elgin car dealership into a family affair, with total new and used sales now totaling about $1 billion a year.

"He was a very tenacious businessman," said Kelly Buckley, one of McGrath's three daughters. "Very loyal. He started all of my family in the car business."

McGrath died of cancer Sunday at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. He was 85.

Born in North Dakota, McGrath was a pilot in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was the lead pilot in the formation that flew over President Dwight D. Eisenhower's inauguration, Buckley said.

"If there was anything aside from cars that he was into, it was flying," Buckley said. "Wherever he is now, he's got to be in an airplane. That's what he loved doing."

After leaving the service, McGrath joined the Buick division of General Motors, where he worked for 11 years.

He left the company in 1964 to open McGrath Buick on what is now the site of the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin.

He opened McGrath Honda in 1969.

Seven years later, he built the first free-standing Honda dealership in Chicago.

And in 1990, he opened McGrath Nissan of Elgin with his son, Scott.

"My dad was kind of an innovator," Mike McGrath said. "He picked up Honda before anybody really knew about Honda. He was always looking for new and better ways to do things."

McGrath ultimately sold all of his businesses to his sons.

"He was not only a special guy to us but to a lot of people who did business with him, worked for him," Mike McGrath said.

The family now operates 12 dealerships throughout the Chicago area, employing an estimated 1,100 people and selling 25,000 new and used cars a year.

"Any of my brothers will tell you he was the driving force," Buckley said. "We love bragging about him. He was a great guy."

Visitation is scheduled from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services Friday.

The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 215 Thomas More Drive, Elgin.

In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to U.S.O. of Illinois, 700 E. Grand Ave. #105, Chicago, IL, 60611.