Key Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | James Donald McConaughey |
| Birth | November 7, 1929, Jackson, Mississippi |
| Death | August 17, 1992, Missouri City, Texas |
| Education | University of Kentucky; University of Houston |
| Football Career | Kentucky Wildcats; Houston Cougars; 1953 Packers draftee (no games) |
| Occupation | Oil-pipe supply businessman |
| Spouse | Mary Kathleen McCabe (married/divorced twice) |
| Children | Matthew, Michael “Rooster,” Patrick (adopted) |
| Cause of Death | Heart attack (while with spouse) |
Early Life and Football Career
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 7, 1929, to Southern parents, James Donald McConaughey was born. Born a twin, he excelled in sports and academics in New Orleans. He excelled at fullback for Kentucky and Houston. He was drafted in the 27th round by the Green Bay Packers in 1953, but he was cut before he could play. His attention to training and team leadership foreshadowed his business work ethic.
Business and Entrepreneurship
McConaughey adapted well from football to entrepreneurship. He used Texas’ burgeoning petroleum sector to start and run a thriving oil-pipe supply company. He led the company from a local concern to a regional supplier known for reliability and customer service. James taught his employees ethics and innovation, which became his company’s values and a model for his children. His businesses provided financial security for his family and neighborhood.
Personal Life and Family Dynamics
James and Mary Kathleen McCabe married in the early 1950s and divorced twice before reuniting till his death. They had three sons: Matthew David (born November 4, 1969), Michael “Rooster” (born November 4, 1969), and Patrick “Pat” (adopted). Jim, as family and friends called him, combined business and a busy home life with humor, religion, and responsibility. At 62, he died of a heart attack in an intimate moment with his wife in August 1992, fulfilling a sardonic prophesy he had made years previously.
Margarita Olympia McConaughey: Next Gen
The family’s third generation of public and private success is Margarita Olympia McConaughey, born February 2009. She keeps a low profile while celebrating milestones as the daughter of Rooster and Erica McConaughey. In 2024, she celebrated her Quinceañera with a white ball gown and sparkly crown, with family members like her uncle Matthew present. She has half-brother Madison Beaumont and brother Miller Lyte. Margarita’s coming-of-age events, like her SXSW 2025 appearance with her uncle, demonstrate the McConaughey lineage’s blend of tradition and modern media.
FAQ
Who was James Donald McConaughey?
Former NCAA football player James Donald McConaughey became an oil-pipe supply businessman and father of Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey.
What teams did he play for in college?
After playing fullback at Kentucky and Houston, the Green Bay Packers drafted him in 1953.
His marriages to Mary Kathleen McCabe: how many?
Jim and Mary Kathleen McCabe married twice, divorced twice, and reunited until his 1992 death.
What was the cause of his death?
While with his wife on August 17, 1992, he died of a heart attack.
Who is Margarita Olympia McConaughey?
Born about 2009, Margarita McConaughey is the daughter of Michael “Rooster” and Erica McConaughey. She celebrated her Quinceañera in 2024.
How is Matthew McConaughey related to Margarita?
Through his brother Michael “Rooster” McConaughey, Margarita is Matthew’s niece.
