Edward Clarence McKinney Jr.

Edward Clarence McKinney, Jr. was born November 14, 1943 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His parents (deceased) were Edward Clarence McKinney (Senior) and Minnie Ruth Davis McKinney. Maternal Grandparents were Richard Thomas Davis and Jeanettie Lee Shermer Davis and paternal Grandparents were John William Pleasant McKinney and Fannie A. Hubbard McKinney.

Edward “Eddie” attended Old Town School, grades one through eight. His love for sports began during the eighth grade when he played football, basketball, and baseball. Even at the elementary level, he showed that high academic standards could be maintained while playing sports. This concept served him well throughout high school and college.

Eddie graduated from Northwest High School, Forsyth County, in 1962. He was active in several clubs, serving as President of the Monogram Club. His notoriety, however, was earned on both the football and baseball fields. Both sports were played during all four years of high school with football bringing the greatest recognition. As an aside, his high school baseball career ended with a home run, winning the game. Can’t beat that for an exciting way to end an outstanding career. He played the positions of catcher and “clean-up” batter. Another baseball recognition came when he was a member of the Championship Junior Baseball Team in 1959, representing the Whitaker Playground, Winston-Salem, NC.

Eddie’s claim to fame occurred on the football field at Northwest High School. His positions were right and left halfback, fullback, and extra point (place) kicker. During these four years, 1958-1962, Eddie scored 52 touchdowns and 62 extra points. High school sports honors included: All-Star Forsyth County 2-A Conference Team for 1960 and 1961; Most Improved Player for 1961; and setting school records for most yards gained and highest scorer in the school’s history (at that time).

The sports writer for the 'Winston Salem Journal and Sentinel', Mary Garber, discovered that Eddie took ballroom dance lessons at Floretta Baylin Studios and participated as a member of the Formation Dance team. This team performed at the 1960 Adult Ballroom Championship of America, Astor Hotel, New York City, 1960. Because of this dancing, ability to dodge tacklers of the football field, and winning games with extra point and field goal kicks, Ms. Garber coined the nicknames of “Twinkle Toes” and “True Toe” McKinney.

Eddie’s high school academic and football achievements earned him a four-year scholarship to play football for Wake Forest College (now University), Winston-Salem, NC. He was the placekicker for extra points and field goals plus the fullback. He earned recognition for his kicking efforts by having the most extra points in the Atlantic Coast Conference and tying the national scoring number for kickers in 1964. Eddie really was “True Toe” McKinney!

While attending Wake Forest College, Eddie was inducted into the Pershing Rifles and Scabbard and Blade Military Honor Societies. He served as Cadet Captain for Scabbard and Blades. This ROTC military experience laid the foundation for his two years of service in the Army.

In 1966 Eddie graduated from Wake Forest College with a Bachelor of Science degree noting a major in mathematics. Following graduation, he entered graduate school at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Graduated in 1969 with a second Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting.

His employment (work) career began in 1969 in the Comptroller’s Department of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem. NC. No sooner than he had begun work, Eddie had to take a “leave of absence” to serve two years in the Army. He entered as a Second Lieutenant and earned the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge in 1972. While in the Army, he was a teacher of the Red-I Missile within the Air Defense Program at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, during the Vietnam War.

Following service, Eddie married Patricia “Pat” Diane Scriver and both returned to work at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. From the Comptroller’s Department he was transferred to CSX Transportation and Pat was transferred to Nabisco Corporation, both owned by Reynolds Corporation in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Early retirement became an option for both Eddie and Pat, allowing them to move from New Jersey to her home state of Washington in 1996. With no children and time on their hands, they each re-entered the workforce. Eddie joined Sears and Roebuck Corporation in Tacoma and Pat joined Weyerhauser in Seattle. Both retired again in 2012.

Eddie became a widower in March 2014, but continued to live in Gig Harbor, WA with his dogs. The onset of dementia began in 2016, gradually becoming worse with time. Being diabetic accelerated the Vascular Dementia and affected his oral communication, ultimately leading to his move to Arkansas (Spring 2020) to be with his sister, Mary Ruth, and her family. The story of his move during COVID-19 Pandemic can be read in the February 2021 issue of the 'Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences'.

Even though Eddie’s life on earth has ended, it already has begun in Eternity. He was baptized at the age of 14 at College Park Baptist Church. At that time, his name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. He joins his parents, relatives, and friends in his new heavenly home. He, at last, has found peace and comfort with no health issues.

If you have not found peace and comfort in your life, surrender your all to Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior so that your name, too, can be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.