CHARLES S. DONALDSON
Director/Trustee
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Charles Stuart Donaldson, Sr., was born March 24, 1890, in Tayport, Dundee, Scotland. He died April 25, 1964, in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. His father was Thomas Stewart Donaldson (1852–1893), and his mother was Isabella Donaldson (née Taylor, 1845–1910).
Charles S. Donaldson emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1911 at the age of 21. A machinist and mechanic by occupation, he was employed as a chipper at American Foundry & Machine Co. in 1917 and was working as an auto mechanic by 1930.
In 1916, Donaldson married Jessie Speed (1894–1972) in Salt Lake City. Together, they had three children: Jessie (1917–1994), Charles "Stuart," Jr. (1923–2006), and Robert Douglas (1933–2020).
In 1937, Donaldson cofounded the Utah Pipe Band (UPB) and served as one of the
organization's directors and trustees. His son, C. Stuart Donaldson, participated in the UPB as a piper.
Donaldson served as the president and sergeants-at-arms of the Salt Lake Scottish Club. In July 1940, prior to U.S. involvement in the Second World War, Donaldson addressed the Scottish-American community as President of the Salt Lake Scottish Club, saying:
"In my heart, and in the hearts of the other Scotsmen assembled here this afternoon on the eve of the greatest test Great Britain has ever experienced, we believe Scotland and the rest of Great Britain will pull through. We may lose some battles, but we'll win the last one."
Prior to retiring in 1961, Donaldson worked as the supervisor at Tooele Ordnance Depot for eight years.
In 1964, Donaldson died aged 74 in Salt Lake City.