McMahan Shoes

John Oren McMahan also known to many as Mac or Mr. Mac, was born on July 3, 1916, in Canton, MO, the middle son of the Rev. Jesse Forrest McMahan and Emma Palmer McMahan.

Mac entered the U.S Army during WWII, in 1942, as a private and advanced to the rank of captain in the Quartermaster Corps in Ledo, Assam, India from 1943-1946. India is where he met his future wife, Pennsylvania native and army nurse Mary Esh. The couple moved to Atlanta in 1948, when Mac and Mary opened McMahan Shoes, one of Atlanta's first orthopedic shoe stores.

McMahan Shoes of Spartanburg, SC, 1968:

"In January of 1948, John McMahan began his shoe business in downtown Atlanta on the seventh floor of the old Henry Grady Office Building. A few years later, he moved to 417 Peachtree Road, then to a larger location at 429 Peachtree Road.
   In 1973 a big decision was made to move from Peachtree to 505 Courtland Street. Here everything was on one level, the show room, the shoe repair shop and the custom orthoses lab."

McMahan Shoes of Decatur, Georgia, 2016:

"McMahan’s Shoes a historic shoe store since 1948 in Atlanta, closed in 2016. The closure was due to George Psillas, the owner, retiring.
   Since 1968, McMahan Shoes has specialized in comfort footwear including diabetic shoes, pre-made insoles, quality athletic and casual shoes."

Orthopedic footwear industry leader

John Oren McMahan President of Pedorthic Foorwear (Footcare) Associaion (1974-1976). “He became my supreme mentor,” Past President of PFA, Jean Sears said. “He had eight stores in Atlanta and taught many young pedorthists unselfishly.”

In addition to running his seven stores, he also traveled the state to provide orthopedic footwear in conjunction with Georgia Crippled Children Clinics, as well as Warm Springs Polio Clinic. His love of the orthopedic footwear industry was apparent, as he would regularly lecture on the subject at Northwestern University and Ball State University.

Throughout his career, he served as president and a founder of the Prescription Footwear (Footcare) Association, as well as president of the Board for Certification in Pedorthics. In his later years, Mac was an avid quail hunter on his Henry County tree farm. His farm was also the site of his large garden every summer. He enjoyed sharing his vegetables with his many friends and family. In the winter everyone was supplied with firewood.

Carl has published numerous papers and articles and was co-author of Diabetic Foot Care published by the American Diabetic Association. He has chaired PFA’s symposium on Management of The Arthritic Foot a Team Approach, which was cosponsored by The Arthritis Foundation and The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society. Carl had also served as a judge for the Shoe Service Institute’s annual Orthopedic Shoe Service Contest in 1986.

A Life of Service

Capt. McMahan: McMahan advanced from private to the rank of captain in the Quartermaster Corps during WWII.

A beloved member of Clairmont Presbyterian church, Mr. McMahan was also a life member of the Yaarab Shriners, the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M., and Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A. John passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2008.

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