Les S. Mckinney

Dr. Les Simpson McKinney, age 73, of Pinellas Park, FL, passed away on March 10, 2009 following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Born on August 4, 1935 in Gallipolis, Ohio, Les was preceded in death by his parents, Dell and Fannie McKinney. Surviving are his wife, Sally D. McKinney, daughters Vicki Johnson and husband Rick of Pinellas Park, FL, Kathy Sumner and husband George of Oak Hill, WV and Lori McKinney of Pinellas Park, FL., two grandchildren, James Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson, and a great grandchild Maddox Johnson, all of Pinellas Park, FL. Les is also survived by his brothers Donald Nugen and wife Marge of Lancaster, OH, Fred McKinney of Stockport. OH, David McKinney and wife Charlotte of Fayetteville, WV, sisters Janet Hunt and husband Gordon of Woodstock, VA, Joyce Dunn and husband John of Dickerson, MD, and Mary Harrington of San Carlos, CA. Les grew up on Laurel Creek in Fayette County, and attended Fayette County Schools. He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1954. Les did his undergraduate work in Longview, Texas and received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from LeTourneau College in 1960. He earned a Masters of Education (M.A.) from Shippensburg State College in 1968, a Masters of Arts (M.A.) from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in 1976, and received his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Virginia Tech in 1979. After graduating from LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas in 1960, he returned to West Virginia to work in the field of education. He was a math teacher at Richmond High in Raleigh County Schools from 1960-62. Next he moved on to a position at the Raleigh County Vo-Tech in Beckley, serving there until 1966. The eastern panhandle of West Virginia was growing and moving with trends in education, as they combined the vocational needs of three counties into one large inclusive vocational center, James Rumsey at Martinsburg. Les helped coordinate the launch of this novel facility and served as its first director from 1966-1973. Schools were becoming career based in preparing learners for tomorrow, and Les had the opportunity to return to his native Fayette County and helped establish the Fayette Plateau Vocational Technical Center (Fayette Institute of Technology) in Oak Hill. This center continues to have as its mission to prepare area residents in adult and career education. The next challenge taken on by Les was to move to higher education, as he served from 1975 to 1984 as a Professor for the Division of Vocational-Education at West Virginia Institute of Technology, training teachers for vocational instruction statewide. Les returned to Fayette Plateau Vocational-Technical Center between the years 1984-1989 serving as Director. From 1989 to 1990 he served as a consultant in education, economic development, industrial training, research, and also worked as a realtor in the local market. In 1990 Les returned to educational administration, as he crossed the Pacific to become a Dean and Vice-President at Guam Community College. Les returned stateside to live and work in the St Petersburg, Florida area in 1995 and began working in financial work as a representative and account executive for Advantage Capitol, Chatfield Dean & Company, and would retire from Franklin Templeton Finances. Les was a founder and President of the Nugen Family Cemetery Trust, with a mission of preserving a family burial ground on his native Laurel Creek in Fayette County. Always showing a great concern for the betterment of his local and state community, Les was involved in the Oak Hill Rotary Club, the Fayette Plateau Chamber of Commerce, and a diverse mix of professional organizations centered on vocational education. Always a man of great faith, Les was active in the beginnings of the Fayette County Gideons, and continued work while on Guam with Gideons International Guam. Les served as a Deacon, a Trustee, was on a pastoral search committee, and was active in American Baptist Men at Oak Hill Baptist Church. He continued to be involved in Baptist church work and Gideon work while living on Guam and in Micronesia. In Florida Les served as a Deacon and was on a pastoral search committee at First Baptist Church of Pinellas Park, FL. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Oak Hill Baptist Church, 613 Lundale Drive, Oak Hill from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Funeral services will be held at the Oak Hill Baptist Church at 2:30pm Sunday, March 15th with the Reverends David Sneed and David White will be officiating, with a special message by Jim Murdock of the Fayette Gideon Camp . Special musical selections will be provided by organist Mrs. Faye Holliday, soloist Mr. Noel Revels, and the OHBC Sanctuary Choir. Graveside rites will follow the service at High Lawn Memorial Park, East Main Street, Oak Hill, WV. Pallbearers will be Fred McKinney, David McKinney, James Johnson, Scott McKinney, Gordon Hunt, and Wallace Wright. In lieu of memorial flowers donations can be made to: Hospice of Florida Suncoast, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760. Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV