R.L. & K.H. Maclellan

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Incorporated in February of 1972 by Mrs. Robert Llewellyn Maclellan, the Robert L. and Kathrina H. Maclellan Foundation seeks to fulfill Robert’s wish that his estate be used “for the benefit of our community and the needs of its people.”

 

Born the eldest son of Robert Jardine and Cora Llewellyn Maclellan on November 1, 1906, Robert (Bob) spent his childhood years at the Maclellan’s Bluff View home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, attending the Misses Duval’s School at Fifth and High Streets.  Later, he entered McCallie School for boys, graduating as salutatorian of the class of 1924 before enrolling in Dartmouth College.  At Dartmouth, Bob served as editor of the Dartmouth Pictorial (where he was succeeded by Nelson Rockefeller, later governor of New York).

 

Upon graduation from Dartmouth in 1928, Bob thought he should look for business experience in the East, but his father encouraged him to return home to work for Provident Life and Accident Insurance, Co., the burgeoning family business.  By 1952, Bob had succeeded his father, Robert J. Maclellan, as president of Provident and held the post until March of 1970, when he was elected chairman and chief executive officer.

 

During World War II, Bob took a leave of absence from his duties at Provident to volunteer for service in the Army.  Entering in April of 1942, he was commissioned a captain and ordered to Washington D.C., where he assisted in the organization and development of the military insurance department.  He was promoted rapidly to lieutenant colonel and charged with maintenance of the National Service Life Insurance.  In 1946, Bob was honorably discharged from the army and awarded the Legion of Merit for “notably outstanding service.”

 

Bob’s investment in the Chattanooga community and philanthropic world ran deep.  Dedicated to improving the downtown section of Chattanooga and to seeing it restored as the economic heart of the community, Bob accepted the chairmanship of the Chamber of Commerce’s downtown development committee in 1965, and his oversight of the Provident properties did much to further his vision.  

In addition, Bob assisted his father, R.J., and aunt, Dora Maclellan Brown, in establishing the Maclellan Foundation in July of 1945, and later acted as president (1956-1971) after the death of his father.   He also served in numerous other posts in the community, ranging from vice president of McCallie School to elder of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

 

In 1936, Bob met Kathrina Howze, daughter of Commander and Mrs. Gerald Howze of Duluth, Minnesota, while Kathrina was on a visit to Chattanooga.  The two were married on September 2, 1939, and settled on Lookout Mountain where they raised two children, Robert Howze (Scott) and Anne Llewellyn Maclellan.