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Community Blood Center
Magoteaux reaches
25th gallon donation milestone
Versailles native Jack Magoteaux was feeling lucky when he visited the
Dayton Community Blood Center on St. Patrick’s Day 2014. He was
just 10 away from 200 lifetime donations – the equivalent of 25 gallons
- and with good health and continued dedication, he was optimistic
about reaching the milestone by fall of 2015. His prediction came
true, but as Jack himself admits, “Many things have changed.”
Jack remained on schedule and made a Saturday, Oct. 31 appointment for
his 200th donation. But keeping it would mean traveling to Dayton
from his new home in Huntersville, North Carolina.
“I relocated for my job to the Charlotte area on January 30, 2015,” he
explained in a message. “But that does not stop me from driving
470 miles back to Ohio to donate blood. Coming home gives me an
opportunity to visit family for the weekend and to give blood to help
those in need. This is my fourth trip to Ohio and this trip will be so
memorable and special being my 200th donation and 25 gallons. It has
been a long time coming but finally here. I am so excited!”
Jack was born and raised in Versailles, Darke County’s quaintly French
village of 2,660 residents where a last name like Magoteaux is right at
home. His wife Karen is from nearby North Star. He was 15 when they met
at a Versailles High School basketball game. They married at 18
and will celebrate their 40th anniversary in May.
Jack’s career includes nine years at Midmark in Versailles, and the
last 15 as a trainer with MSC Industrial Supply Corp. He traveled
around the country to MSC sites, but when the company opened a new
headquarters with a training facility in North Carolina, he was asked
to move. Karen had retired from teaching 4th grade at Greenville City
Schools and their three children were grown, so they decided to sell
their Versailles home and go.
Everything about their lives changed – except Jack’s donation schedule.
“I was so close to 25 gallons, I wanted to make every donation back
home,” Jack said. “This was my home for all these years. I don’t know
anybody there, I know everybody here. Giving back to your community is
what it’s all about - helping people.”
Jack stayed on course but with a new routine. Every eight weeks he and
Karen travel to their son Matthew’s home in Columbus to spend the
weekend. He donates in Dayton and they visit their daughter
Michelle in Versailles. Their daughter Melanie lives in the
Atlanta area.
The miles don’t seem to bother Jack. After all, he spent 12
seasons making round trips to South Bend, Indiana to volunteer as an
usher at every Notre Dame home football game. He was hand-picked
to work in the end zone tunnel and shuttle coaches and celebrities
through the bowels of the stadium.
He can rattle of a who’s-who list of distinguished Notre Dame alumni
and guests he has met over the years: “Joe Montana, Tim Brown, Jerome
Bettis, Regis Philbin, the real Rudy Ruettiger, Tommy Lasorda and Mike
Golic. I met Hank Aaron when he addressed the team – a very nice
man.” A favorite bit of Notre Dame trivia is about Knute Rockne’s
private bathroom, where the door is always left open.
He finally said goodbye to ushering for the Irish so he could spend
more time with his seven grandchildren. Jack and his son Matthew
remain big Notre Dame fans.
On Saturday, Oct. 31 he made his 200th lifetime donation at the Dayton
CBC. Other than a cake and well wishes from CBC staff, it was a
routine donation in every way. “I feel fantastic,” he said. “I just
feel great about helping people.”
It was a time to reflect on his first blood donation. “Our
daughter needed open heart surgery at seven days old,” he recalled.
“They put a band on her artery, and years later it had to come off. I
started donating in 1979 and never stopped. It’s taken me 36 years to
get to 25 gallons.”
The road does not end with this milestone. “My first goal was five
gallons, then 10,” he said. “Then I said I’ll go all the way to 25
gallons. Now at 25, should I be realistic – 30 gallons?” There is
no reason to doubt. Especially since every step of the journey
will be another homecoming.
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