J. William McKinley
Alumni Citizenship Award
B.S. Business Administration, 1965
J. William McKinley, a lifelong resident of Scioto County, Ohio, works hard to improve the quality of life for everyone in his Appalachian community. As a professional and businessperson, he has involved himself in efforts to promote the region in economic and social development.
McKinley is the owner and president of McKinley Funeral Home in Lucasville. And he is a humanitarian, philanthropist, and strong supporter of education and the arts in southern Ohio. He has worked behind the scenes for the benefit of local schools, the Southern Ohio Medical Center Hospice Center, Shawnee State University, the Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association, and Ohio State. All have received ample amounts of his time, effort, and money.
John Smith, president of the Scioto County Alumni Club, said, “William’s support of many worthy causes has benefited numerous people in southern Ohio. In all he does, he keeps Woody Hayes’ simple concept in the back of his mind: we must pay forward to improve the quality of life for our future generations.”
McKinley volunteers much of his time to many causes in his community. He has purchased band, cheerleader, and athletics uniforms for high schools; helped build a youth baseball and soccer complex; purchased scoreboards and sound systems for high school football stadiums; and endowed academic and athletic scholarships.
Ohio State also has been on the receiving end of McKinley’s kindness. He was the first alumnus to adopt/donate an entire row of instruments to the Marching Band, and he is the only alumnus to have a row of the band—the M row—named in his honor. His name also graces the library in the new Joan Zieg Steinbrenner band facility in Ohio Stadium.
According to Smith, “Mr. McKinley goes about his humanitarian ways in a very quiet manner. He does not seek recognition for his many gifts, endowments, and fund-raising efforts.”
McKinley has adopted a creed that reflects his approach to life. “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride!’”
