Frank McKinney
Encyclopedia
Frank McKinney was a backstroke
swimmer from the United States
. He was later a bank
executive.
The son of Frank E. McKinney
, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee
and a former owner of the NL's Pittsburgh Pirates
, McKinney was the youngest member of a USA team that set a world record in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1955 Pan American Games
. The sixteen-year-old high school student also won a gold medal in the 100m backstroke.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
, he did the most to introduce modern backstroke techniques. Following Yoshi Oyakawa as 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 Allan Sommers. Later they all swam under another famous coach, Doc Counsilman.
McKinney captured a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne, Australia, and then entered Indiana University
.
In the 1960 Summer Olympics
, he won the Silver in the 100 Metre backstroke and was part of the Gold medal 4 x 100 Medley relay team
McKinney retired from competition after graduating from Indiana 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. McKinney was traveling to the Columbus, Ohio with 3 other civic leaders, who were also killed along with the pilots of both aircraft. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
in Indianapolis.
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was later a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
executive.
The son of Frank E. McKinney
Frank E. McKinney
Frank E. McKinney was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1951 through 1952. He was hand-picked for the post by then-President Harry S Truman....
, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and a former owner of the NL's Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, McKinney was the youngest member of a USA team that set a world record in the 4x100m medley relay at the 1955 Pan American Games
1955 Pan American Games
The 2nd Pan American Games opened on March 12, 1955 in the University Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, in front of a capacity crowd of 100,000 spectators....
. The sixteen-year-old high school student also won a gold medal in the 100m backstroke.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, he did the most to introduce modern backstroke techniques. Following Yoshi Oyakawa as 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 Allan Sommers. Later they all swam under another famous coach, Doc Counsilman.
McKinney captured a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, Australia, and then entered Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
.
In the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, he won the Silver in the 100 Metre backstroke and was part of the Gold medal 4 x 100 Medley relay team
Later life
McKinney retired from competition after graduating from Indiana in 1961 and went into banking. He was the president of Bank One of Indiana (previously American Fletcher National Bank), headquartered in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
when he died, aged 53, in a mid-air collision
Mid-air collision
A mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or more aircraft come into contact during flight. Owing to the relatively high velocities involved and any subsequent impact on the ground or sea, very severe damage or the total destruction of at least one of the aircraft involved usually...
between two aircraft in 1992. McKinney was traveling to the Columbus, Ohio with 3 other civic leaders, who were also killed along with the pilots of both aircraft. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
in Indianapolis.