In Memoriam – Fred McCarter, Founder
Founder
Fred was the founder of Aviation Tax Consultants, LLC (ATC), a business which utilized his many years of experience in tax consulting. After graduating from Indiana University with a B.S. Degree in Accounting, and spending a short time in public accounting, he started his first line of business specializing in property tax consulting. In 2003, he became aware of the need for specialized consulting for people who are purchasing general aviation aircraft and started Aviation Tax Consultants (ATC) to fill the need.
Fred passed away in September 2022 after an 18 month battle with Glioblastoma, a rare type of brain cancer. He is deeply missed by everyone at ATC and the family he loved so well. Fred and his wife Lisa had 3 children and 4 grandchildren and Fred was their biggest supporter in any goals or dreams they had. Fred was all about living life to its fullest. A lot of people dream about doing things; Fred DID them. His dreams included: being the owner of his own company, a private pilot, a race car driver, a football coach that took his team to many championship games, living on a lake, owning some hunting land, taking family trips, and traveling on hunting adventures. He achieved all these dreams and many more.
We will continue to honor his legacy at ATC by working hard, playing hard, dreaming big and living life to its fullest.
Fred McCarter Scholarship Fund
Each year, EAA Aviation Foundation awards more than a million dollars in scholarships through different programs that support the next generation of aviation enthusiasts.
One of the newest scholarships is the Aviation Tax Consultants Fred McCarter Scholarship Fund. The scholarship was created by his business partner, Daniel Cheung, and Aviation Tax Consultants (ATC) to honor Fred McCarter’s legacy after his passing in September 2022.
Fred was vivacious. He was a father, grandfather, business owner, coach, pilot, and much more.
“Fred was all about living life to its fullest,” Fred’s wife, Lisa McCarter, said. “A lot of people dream about doing things; Fred DID them.”
He spent many years coaching his sons in youth sports and was a huge cheerleader to his daughter and grandchildren in everything they were involved in. His faith and family were the two most important things in his life.
“He recognized that he was blessed beyond measure,” Lisa said. “He was someone you could always count on.”
Fred was also an accountant who realized the need for specialized consulting for people who purchase general aviation aircraft. That’s when he started ATC to fill the need. He enjoyed being a pilot and taking family and friends on adventures.
“We continue to try and honor his legacy at ATC by working hard, playing hard, dreaming big, and living life to its fullest,” Lisa said.
The post-secondary scholarship was created to keep Fred’s legacy going. It will be awarded for the first time in May 2024 to someone seeking a career in aviation, with a preference to someone going into a non-pilot career.