James Daniel McKinley, Jr., was born January 5, 1924, in De Queen, Arkansas and died September 29, 2017, in Houston. He was the son of James D. McKinley, Sr. and Addie Wood McKinley. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Patricia Tegart McKinley; a daughter, Karen McKinley Clark of Austin, two sons, David James McKinley and his wife Eunice Marie of Southlake, Texas, and Craig Daniel McKinley and his wife Elizabeth West of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren: James Clark and wife Ashley, Christopher James McKinley and wife Mylisa, Rayna Lynn and husband Dr. Joaquin Torres, Robert Conkle and wife Sarah; great-grandchildren: Sara Kathryn Clark, Austin Michael and Nathan Daniel McKinley, James Byron Torres, Robin and Jessica Conkle, and two nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Irene Ward.
James graduated from San Angelo High School and San Angelo College and then served in the U.S. Army 51st Ordnance Ammunition Company in New Caledonia during World War II. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Texas in 1948 where he was a member of Rho Chi (National Pharmaceutical Honor Society). He was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Maryland and a prestigious Certificate of Residency in Hospital Pharmacy from The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in 1950 following a two year internship in their hospital pharmacy department. He was a registered pharmacist in Texas for 50 years.
He founded and served for 33 years as the Director of the Pharmacy Division of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He started the department in 1950 and was the sole pharmacist for four years as the hospital was being built in the Texas Medical Center. He led the pharmacy division at M.D. Anderson from its inception to national prominence in the field of hospital pharmacy with over 200 staff members. He was a former member of the executive committee of the American Society of Health-Service Pharmacists, former president of the Texas Society of Health-Service Pharmacists and of the Houston-Galveston Area Society of Health-Service Pharmacists and was a Charter Diplomate of the American Board of Diplomates in Pharmacy. He served on several national pharmacy advisory committees and was an adjunct clinical instructor and visiting lecturer of hospital pharmacy at several universities. He was one of the founders and first president of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Retirees Association.
James was honored as the recipient of the University of Texas College of Pharmacy Alumni Association 2014 Legend of Pharmacy Award which is given annually to a distinguished individual who has made legendary achievements in the pharmacy profession.
He had been a very active member of the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church for 54 years where he was a former member of the Board of Stewards and Board of Trustees. He belonged to the Bridgebuilders Sunday School Class, the N.O.A.H. choir, the Senior Adult Council, the MDUMC Kitchen Band, and The Men of Action.
James, an even tempered, gentle man, will be greatly missed by his loving family and professional associates, his many friends and the residents at Eagle’s Trace where he had lived since it opened in 2005. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, October 11th at the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.
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