Early life
McKay was born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in the Overbrook, Philadelphia, Overbrook section of the city in an Irish American Catholic Church, Catholic family. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School and Saint Joseph's Preparatory School. When McKay was 14, he and his family moved to Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended Loyola High School (now Loyola Blakefield). He received a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland, Loyola College in Maryland in 1943. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy as the captain of a Minesweeper (ship), minesweeper. In 1946, McKay returned to Baltimore and took a position with ''The Baltimore Sun, The Evening Sun'' as a police reporter. He was promoted to aviation reporter instead of getting a raise. During this time, he also met Margaret Dempsey, his future wife.Television
In 1947, McKay gave up his job as a reporter for ''The Evening Sun'' to join that same organization's new TV station WMAR-TV. His was the first voice ever heard on television in Baltimore. McKay remained with the station until joining CBS in New York in 1950 as host of a variety show, called ''The Real McKay'', which necessitated the changing of his on-air surname. From 1958 to 1960, McKay served as host and commentator on the CBS television daytime program ''The Verdict Is Yours.'' Through the 1950s, sports commentary became more and more his primary assignment for CBS. In 1956 New York Giants season, 1956-1957 New York Giants season, 57, McKay teamed with Chris Schenkel to call NFL on CBS, CBS telecasts of New York Giants football. He was originally tabbed to be the lead broadcaster of the CBS Olympic broadcasts, network's coverage of the 1960 Winter Olympics, but had to be replaced by Walter Cronkite after suffering a mental breakdown. McKay recovered in time to host the 1960 Summer Olympics from the CBS Television studio in Grand Central Terminal. He had a six-episode stint as host of the game show ''Make the Connection'' on NBC in 1955. He moved on to ABC in 1961, and was the host of ABC's influential ''Wide World of Sports (American TV program), Wide World of Sports'' for 37 years. McKay was known to motor racing fans as the host of the ABC's annual delayed telecast of the Indianapolis 500. Over the years, McKay worked with race drivers in commentary, including triple Formula One World Champion Jackie Stewart, triple Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser, and Sam Posey. While covering the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics for ABC, McKay took on the job of reporting the events live on his only scheduled day off during the Games, substituting for Chris Schenkel. He was on air for fourteen hours without a break, during a sixteen-hour broadcast.Hale, MarkPersonal life
An avid horse racing enthusiast who raised thoroughbreds, McKay founded Maryland Million Classic, Maryland Million Day, a series of twelve races designed to promote Maryland's horse breeding industry. The day-long program has grown to become a major racing event in the state of Maryland, second only to the Preakness Stakes day at Pimlico Race Course. It has spawned more than twenty other similar events at United States race tracks such as the Sunshine Millions. McKay and his wife purchased a minority share in the Baltimore Orioles in 1993. He participated in the effort to bring the 2012 Summer Olympics to Baltimore and Washington. McKay died on June 7, 2008, from natural causes at age 86. He was survived by his wife Margaret, son Sean, daughter Mary Guba, and three grandchildren. McKay died on the same day as the running of the Belmont Stakes (won by Da'Tara that year).Honors
*McKay won numerous awards, including the George Polk Award for his sports and news coverage of the 1972 Summer Olympics, 1972 Munich Olympics. *McKay was the first sportscaster to win an Emmy Award and won thirteen Emmys in his lifetime. * 1987: American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame, inducted along with veteran boxing and horse racing announcer Clem McCarthy. * 1988: U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. * 1993: ''TV Guide'' named McKay the best sportscaster of the 1970s. * 2001: Paul White (journalist), Paul White Award, Radio Television Digital News Association *McKay was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame during its 11th induction. *He was selected as the inaugural Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism recipient in 2002. *The Olympics on NBC, NBC broadcast of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was dedicated to McKay, per a message at the closing of the broadcast. *The National Collegiate Athletic Association has dedicated a scholarship for college athletes for postgraduate study in McKay's honor. *Fort Washington Avenue Armory, The Armory in New York City dedicated a high school track meet in his name on December 12, 2008.References
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