STORMY MCDONALD MYSTERY

Stormy McDonald died probably of a homicide on February 3, 1965. For the entire month of February in Tucson, Arizona, the big story was how a rich college millionaire was killed in his home. As it was written, The ARIZONA STAR indicated that Eugene

“Stormy” McDonald killed himself late February 2^nd or early February 3^rd. Others are still investigating this even today why they think it is a murder.

Who was he? Did he die alone? Why is this important?

Stormy McDonald’s father started as a car salesman and then worked his way up to the presidency of Zenith Corporation. He passed away leaving Stormy and his sister millions of dollars. Story’s mother also was gone. . He was placed under the guardianship of another president of Zenith and that relationship was very troubled..

Zenith in some ways in those days was like a family. In the early 20’s, they produced the first portable radio, home radio, black and white television, color TV and are innovators many years later as a leader in HDTV. Finally, they merged with LG. Electronics.

Stormy was left without a family but with tons of money for the time.

However,there was more to him than what appeared to be on the surface. He was probably an undiagnosed Bi-Polar who was able to conduct himself in polite society.

As punishment, he was sent to Omaha University where he became fast friends with another rich kid Peter Fonda. The local school paper asked “Where was Stormy?” Although sent to Omaha, Nebraska he wanted to live in California. At now University of Nebraska-Omaha, he finally showed up. There he also made friends with his Geography tutor Dr. Roger Dunbier. Stormy and Roger lived together from 59’ to 61’ Dunbier was not a light weight. He had graduated with honors at UNO in 55’ returned to the school as an instructor in the late 50’s and early 60’s after graduating from Oxford with a PhD.

Dunbier went on to teach at the University of California-Irvine and later to Tucson Arizona where he spent much of his life with his own business ARIZONA ECONOMICS. Dunbier had developed a compendium cluster of art and artists and how to financially evaluate both.. Later a software program was developed by himself and another and is still in use today. Dunbier died in 98’ However in 65’ he was close friends with Stormy.

Fonda enters the picture also in the late 50’and early 60’s. Henry Fonda’s sister lived in a

pretty brick two story near the university. She was a matron of the Omaha Playhouse where both Henry and Marlon Brando got their start. Peter was to be watched his aunt.

Fonda was just getting started and he dated girls from Brownell Hall and later those at UNO. Fonda earned about 52 credits before he moved on. At the time, he was in a play or two at the university and later directed a play of which Stormy was the star. By 65’ Stormy, Fonda, and Dunbier were very close friends. By then Fonda had been in 4 films, had an interview in PLAYBOY and ESQUIRE, and appeared to be on his way to the top. .

On the other hand, Dunbier had established himself in ARIZONA ECONOMICS, and Stormy had a ranch house in Arizona. He was a junior at Arizona University and the spring semester had already started.

He had been married and divorced, but remained good friends with his ex-wife. The details of the suicide or murder are detailed for you on an excellent web site THE STORMY MYSTERY.

Briefly, Stormy did not have any drugs in him. Supposedly, he slashed both wrists and shot himself in a convoluted way in the back of the head. His body fell over leftward when it should have fallen forward. There were 2 guns there and some of the blood stains were not in places that fell into logic.

It appeared that others were there. If Stormy was not high, others may have been. Stormy

would always have a number of wrapped weed for others to consume. Dunbier in court was the first to suggest suicide, but others thought that the facts just didn’t fit. One can wonder what happened and that is where the investigation begins.

It is a cold case and one that may have been helped a great deal if it occurred today. With the latest forensic technology more may have been found.

If you have any information at all this is the time to send it to the Stormy Mystery website. Most of his will went to his sister and his friends. As his sister was in another town faraway, the possible murder may be someone or two who knew him very well and a very sad accident happened or an untoward homicide. Someone is interested. At this time, there are 310,000 hits on google when you key in Stormy McDonald.

Today at the University of Nebraska -Omaha, Fonda and McDonald are part of the folklore of the school. UNO is a commuter university located on Dodge St. in the Memorial Park, Dundee, Aksarben, and Country Club neighborhoods with a satellite campus further west. The entire area is also complimented with a golf course and numerous brick homes. My interest came when I attended UNO just a few days after Fonda and McDonald left. Many people spoke about them and their appearances on campus. Actually a number of graduates have gone on to make millions, but there are very few rich and famous students on the campus. I got caught up in the oral tradition that was passed down through the years about Peter and Stormy.

This essay was serendipitous. I was searching google and landed upon this site. Other sources were the archives of the university newspaper THE GATEWAY. The story is important because the time in the 60’s, the story of the death of Stormy was distributed nationwide. It has all the ingredients of an interesting but sad story. This author believes that he did not commit suicide. Check out the website indicated above.