Frank McKinney

American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder, bank executive From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frank Edward McKinney Jr. (November 3, 1938 – September 11, 1992) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and world record-holder. He later became a prominent executive in the American banking industry, but died in a mid-air collision of two aircraft.

FullnameFrank Edward McKinney Jr.
Nationalteam United States
Born(1938-11-03)November 3, 1938
DiedSeptember 11, 1992(1992-09-11) (aged 53)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Frank McKinney
McKinney at the 1960 Olympics
Personal information
Full nameFrank Edward McKinney Jr.
National team United States
Born(1938-11-03)November 3, 1938
DiedSeptember 11, 1992(1992-09-11) (aged 53)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight163 lb (74 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubIndianapolis Athletic Club
College teamIndiana University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1960 Rome4x100 m medley
Silver medal – second place1960 Rome100 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place1956 Melbourne100 m backstroke
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1955 Mexico City100 m back
Gold medal – first place1955 Mexico City4x100 m medley
Gold medal – first place1959 Chicago100 m back
Gold medal – first place1959 Chicago4x100 m medley
Representing Indiana
NCAA
Gold medal – first place1959 Ithaca100 yard backstroke
Gold medal – first place1959 Ithaca200 yard backstroke
Gold medal – first place1960 University Park400 yard medley relay
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McKinney was the son of Frank E. McKinney, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a former owner of the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.

He was the youngest member of a U.S. national swim team which set a world record in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 1955 Pan American Games. At the Pan American Games, the 16-year-old high school student also won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, he did the most to introduce modern backstroke techniques. Following Yoshi Oyakawa as the premier U.S. backstroker, McKinney was the pioneer of the modern bent-arm backstrokers, even as Oyakawa had been the last of the straight-arm school. McKinney was the leader of a remarkable group of teenagers who won the U.S. Nationals for the Indianapolis Athletic Club alongside Mike Troy, Bill Barton, Bill Cass and Alan Somers. Later, they would all swim for the Indiana Hoosiers swimming and diving team under coach Doc Counsilman at Indiana University.

McKinney captured a bronze medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia,[1] then afterward entered Indiana University.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, he received a silver medal for his second-place finish in the men's 100-meter backstroke.[1] He also won a gold medal by swimming the lead-off backstroke leg for the first-place U.S. team in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay.[1]

McKinney retired from competition after graduating from Indiana University in 1961, and went into banking. He was the president of Bank One of Indiana (previously American Fletcher National Bank), headquartered in Indianapolis when he died, aged 53, in a mid-air collision between two aircraft in 1992. As part of the merger, he also became president of the Columbus, Ohio-based parent company, Banc One Corporation, while still the chief executive officer of the Indiana subsidiary.[2][3] McKinney was traveling to Columbus, Ohio, with three other civic leaders, who were also killed along with the pilots of both aircraft.[4][5] He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery (Section 68, Lot 533) in Indianapolis.

Personal life and education

McKinney earned his B.S. in 1961 and Master of Business Administration in 1962 from Indiana University.[6]

See also

References

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