OAKWOOD, VA (AUGUST 6, 2025) — Appalachian College of Pharmacy officials expressed their sorrow in the passing of United Company Chairman and Philanthropist James W. (Jim) McGlothlin, who died August 6, 2025 at the age of 85.
“His legacy, including his legacy of philanthropy, has left an indelible mark on so many throughout the region,” said ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew.
McGlothlin, who is the brother of ACP President Mickey McGlothlin, lived in Bristol, VA and Naples, FL. He had three children and six grandchildren.
“Jim McGlothlin’s unwavering commitment to education and healthcare have inspired our community for years,” Mayhew said. “It is that commitment which has benefitted countless institutions of higher education and their students throughout the region and which has truly made a difference in those institutions and in the lives of the students they serve.”
Jim McGlothlin and his wife, Fran, made significant contributions to Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Mayhew said, noting those were investments in the future of pharmacy education and rural healthcare. McGlothlin was the 2024 ACP commencement speaker.
The McGlothlins have long been known for their dedication to education and community development and have a long-standing history of supporting academic institutions, including ACP, Appalachian School of Law, Emory & Henry College, Milligan College, King College, Virginia Commonwealth University, William & Mary and Mountain Mission School in Grundy. Additionally, they have been long-time supporters of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
The McGlothlins have their own charitable foundation, which makes donations to higher education; the arts; and healthcare institutions. Additionally, they are involved with The United Company Foundation, the United Company’s philanthropic arm.
McGlothlin was born in Grundy, VA and is the son of the late Woodrow and Sally Ann McGlothlin. He was educated in the public schools of Buchanan County, graduating from Garden High School (now ACP’s campus), where he played both football and basketball. He attended The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1962. He earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William & Mary.
He returned to his hometown of Grundy following law school where he practiced law as a partner in the law firm of Street, Street, & McGlothlin until 1970 when he purchased a Buchanan County coal company at auction and gathered six partners to start United Coal Co., which became a billion-dollar business by the time it was sold in 2009. Through the years, various other assets were sold, however, McGlothlin retained The United Co., which diversified into a hospitality and wealth management company. The company also focused on real estate development and coal, oil and gas exploration services. Its holdings include golf courses, RV parks and a stake in the newly opened Bristol Hard Rock Casino. McGlothlin stepped down as CEO of the company in 2022, but remained as the company’s chairman.
In recognition of his lifelong achievements in business, his significant philanthropic support and his impact on statewide economic development, Virginia Business Magazine named Jim McGlothlin its 2022 Person of the Year.
The McGlothlins have also been large supporters of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and its School of Medicine where the medical education center is named in their honor.
“Jim will be remembered for the many things he accomplished throughout his life,” Mayhew said. “His life experience and his history of giving helped to make the Appalachian region a better place in which to live and work.”
The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The college also offers a Doctor of Public Health program and a Certified Pharmacy Technician program. Appalachian College of Pharmacy’s mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States.
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