Staff

The fourth generation McGrath, was born in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. He was number two of nine children. In 1930, he and his older brother Fowler road the train to Kansas City to live with his Grandfather, Transcontinental Railroad Builder John Joseph McGrath for a few years. After graduating from Webbers Falls High School with a graduating class of seven (7), Bud went to work on a Steel Gang for the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) for one semester making $1.27 per day. Bud recalled that they didn’t keep any record of hours back then. He then earned a baseball scholarship at the University of Oklahoma. In 1941, Bud was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers and received a letter to report to spring training. His wages would be $300. per month. Later that year with WWII raging, he joined the Navy and was selected for the Navy V5 Pilot Program.

Bud was one of the founders of the National Railroad construction & Maintenance Association and took on the duties as the Chairman of the Safety Committee for the new association. He wrote the First NRC Safety Manual and served as President of the Association in 1986.

Fourth Generation

Joseph Milton “Bud” McGrath Jr.

Fourth Generation

Joseph Milton “Bud” McGrath Jr.

The fourth generation McGrath, was born in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. He was number two of nine children. In 1930, he and his older brother Fowler road the train to Kansas City to live with his Grandfather, Transcontinental Railroad Builder Joseph McGrath for a few years. After graduating from Webbers Falls High School with a graduating class of seven (7), Bud went to work on a Steel Gang for the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) for one semester making $1.27 per day. Bud recalled that they didn’t keep any record of hours back then. He then earned a baseball scholarship at the University of Oklahoma. In 1941, Bud was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers and received a letter to report to spring training. His wages would be $300. per month. Later that year with WWII raging, he joined the Navy and was selected for the Navy V5 Pilot Program.

Bud was one of the founders of the National Railroad construction & Maintenance Association and took on the duties as the Chairman of the Safety Committee for the new association. He wrote the First NRC Safety Manual and served as President of the Association in 1986.

5th Generation

Jon M. McGrath

A fifth generation railroader, started working for his father at the age of 14 on a track crew. Eventually moving up to equipment operator, track foreman, superintendent, vice president and president. Since joining the family firm in 1973, McGrath has provided management, engineering or consultation on numerous projects across the United States. The McGrath firm designs, constructs, inspects and maintains railroads for shortline, military and industrial railroad customers. McGrath has been involved in the construction of a number of Inner City Mass Transit Systems across the United States. A native Tulsan, McGrath was educated at Bishop Kelley High School, Crowder College, The University of Oklahoma and Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College.

McGrath formerly served on the Tulsa Industrial Authority for 18 years and the Board of Directors at the MidwayUSA Foundation. Jon M McGrath also served as Vice Chairman of the Tulsa Port Authority Board of Directors, the most inland navigable river port in the United States. McGrath currently serves as Chairman of the Google AERO Games, a STEM competition for high school youth teams across Eastern Oklahoma based at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. In 2021, McGrath received the Commanders Commendation for Outstanding Public Service from the US Army Corp of Engineers. Jon M. McGrath is a voting member of the Cherokee Tribe and Nation. In February, 2022 McGrath was elected to the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force and will serve as Task Force Lead on the post war reconstruction.

5th Generation

Jon M. McGrath

A fifth generation railroader, started working for his father at the age of 14 on a track crew. Eventually moving up to equipment operator, track foreman, superintendent, vice president and president. Since joining the family firm in 1973, McGrath has provided management, engineering or consultation on numerous projects across the United States. The McGrath firm designs, constructs, inspects and maintains railroads for shortline, military and industrial railroad customers. McGrath has been involved in the construction of a number of Inner City Mass Transit Systems across the United States. A native Tulsan, McGrath was educated at Bishop Kelley High School, Crowder College, The University of Oklahoma and Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College.

McGrath formerly served on the Tulsa Industrial Authority for 18 years and the Board of Directors at the MidwayUSA Foundation. Jon M McGrath also served as Vice Chairman of the Tulsa Port Authority Board of Directors, the most inland navigable river port in the United States. McGrath currently serves as Chairman of the Google AERO Games, a STEM competition for high school youth teams across Eastern Oklahoma based at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. In 2021, McGrath received the Commanders Commendation for Outstanding Public Service from the US Army Corp of Engineers. Jon M. McGrath is a voting member of the Cherokee Tribe and Nation. In February, 2022 McGrath was elected to the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force and will serve as Task Force Lead on the post war reconstruction.

McGrath holds 28 world titles in both American Skeet and Olympic Skeet including three (3) World Records and (2) World Cup Gold Medals. Jon Michael coached Olympic Gold Medalist Amber English in the 2020 Olympic Games in thr Women’s Skeet event held in Tokyo.

McGrath was educated at Bishop Kelley High School and The University of Oklahoma.

Jon Michael spent two (2) years working on the Oklahoma Street Car Project as a field engineer for Herzog – Stacy Witbeck Joint Venture before rejoining the family firm. He is currently a Vice President for McGRATH in Tulsa. Jon Michael McGrath is a voting member of the Cherokee Tribe and Nation. In 2022, Jon Michael was appointed and confirmed to the Environmental Protection Commission of the Cherokee Nation. Also in 2022, he was elected to the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force Advisory Committee and will serve as the alternate for his father to the full Task Force

6th Generation

Jon Michael McGrath, II

6th Generation

Jon Michael McGrath, II

McGrath holds 28 world titles in both American Skeet and Olympic Skeet including three (3) World Records and (2) World Cup Gold Medals. Jon Michael coached Olympic Gold Medalist Amber English in the 2020 Olympic Games in thr Women’s Skeet event held in Tokyo.

McGrath was educated at Bishop Kelley High School and The University of Oklahoma.

Jon Michael spent two (2) years working on the Oklahoma Street Car Project as a field engineer for Herzog – Stacy Witbeck Joint Venture before rejoining the family firm. He is currently a Vice President for McGRATH in Tulsa. Jon Michael McGrath is a voting member of the Cherokee Tribe and Nation. In 2022, Jon Michael was appointed and confirmed to the Environmental Protection Commission of the Cherokee Nation. Also in 2022, he was elected to the Global Ukraine Rail Task Force Advisory Committee and will serve as the alternate for his father to the full Task Force