youngest McDonald’s franchisee when he opened his first restaurant at age 23 in Grand Junction, a Western slope town. The couple quickly started looking for a larger market and got an opportunity to move to Phoenix in 1969. Together, they packed up their newborn Kristine and headed for the Grand Canyon State. “It’s hard to describe how much it’s grown since then,” said Sandy. “The growth has been unbelievable but we’ve been blessed to get to know a lot of the families here. Our kids have grown up with their kids, and my grandchildren have grown up with their grandchildren. It’s been so much fun.” Over the years, a few values have become synonymous with the family. The first is work. Both girls worked in the family business from a young age. Kristine started working at McDonald’s when she was 13. A few years later, Shannon joined her, working at the restaurant at St. Joseph’s Hospital. “That was when the uniforms had the polyester darts,” she laughed, but quickly went on to extol the virtues of working for the fast-food giant. “I think it’s one of the best jobs any kid can have. Aside from the technical stuff and organizational skills, it’s showing up on time, being responsible,” she explained. “And you learn how to treat people. Really, I think that was one of the biggest things that I took away.” The next value that Sandy and Mac modeled was giving to others. “We’ve always believed that you should step up and give back,” Sandy said. “We are Christians and believe that if you’ve been blessed, you need to give back.” This year is a testament to that ethic as the three women come together to serve the Greater Phoenix Heart Ball. Sandy chaired the event 15 years ago, during its 45 th year. And this year, for the event’s diamond jubilee 60 th year, Kristine is chairing the gala and spearheading efforts in the Valley to raise money and awareness about the dangers of heart disease and stroke. Like most families, theirs has been impacted by heart disease. Sandy’s father had a triple bypass when Kristine was 6. “I still remember him taking Kristine for little walks around the neighborhood when he was recovering,” Sandy said. “And my mom had several incidences of TIAs over the “WE’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT YOU SHOULD STEP UP AND GIVE BACK.” Above: Mac and Sandy on their wedding day. Middle: The biography of Mac’s father, the legendary aviation commander Marion Milton Magruder. Above: Shannon and Kristine working at McDonald’s in the 80s. 26 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JUNE 2019 COVER STORY CONTINUED

years and passed away of a stroke a couple of years ago.” Shannon’s family was also affected by heart disease. Her husband Joel’s father had his first heart attack at 42 and passed away from congenital heart failure. And Kristine’s husband Shane had an experience that caused her family to take stock as well. Approaching 50 and very fit, he had a physical and everything was fine. Three months later, he went in for knee surgery but the doctor refused because Shane’s blood pressure was off the chart. “It happened that quickly,” Kristine said. “One of his missions is to tell people to get tested because if he didn’t take the appropriate medicine and had gone another year to his next physical, who knows what would have happened?” That all of the women’s families have been touched by the disease isn’t a surprise. Heart disease is America’s number-one killer, but much of it is preventable. “One of the things that’s very important to me is to showcase the importance of getting ahead of heart disease and encouraging people to live their best lives,” Kristine said. “Once you are struggling with it, it changes a lot of your options. But if you can prevent 80 percent of it, that would be amazing.” So Kristine is marshaling her connections and resources to make the 60 th Heart Ball a success. “It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” she said. “I love nothing more than meeting new people Disease and Women Below: The extended family on a recent vacation. Heart disease is the NUMBER-ONE KILLER of women. It causes ONE IN THREE women’s deaths each year — one every minute. 90 PERCENT of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Only 20 PERCENT of US women believe it is their greatest health threat. 64 PERCENT of women who die suddenly from coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms . 43 MILLION women in the US are currently affected.