NAU alumnus David G. McKay, longtime principal in the Flagstaff Unified School District and husband of former Regent Kay McKay, died Feb. 10, 2011, in Phoenix. He would have celebrated his 72nd birthday next week.
Mr. McKay was born in Gadsden, Ala., on Feb. 24, 1939. Soon after, his family moved to Ajo, in southern Arizona, where he spent his youth growing up with his three brothers Jim, John and Bill. He graduated from Ajo High School in 1957 and went on to play quarterback as a student athlete for the Gila Monsters football team at Eastern Arizona College.
Mr. McKay received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern Arizona University, then known as Arizona State College. He retired after 35 years of service to the Flagstaff Unified School District where he served as principal of Thomas Knoles Elementary School (1987-98), principal of Christensen Elementary School (1982-87), assistant principal of Christensen and Killip Elementary Schools (1976-82), Title III coordinator (1973-76), assistant principal of Mount Elden Elementary School (1968-73). He also was Flagstaff schools’ first elementary guidance counselor (1966-68) and science teacher for Flagstaff Junior High School (1963-66).
He founded Big Brothers of Northern Arizona in 1968 and served as its executive director for 40 years. In 2000, Gov. Jane Dee Hull appointed Mr. McKay to the Citizens Clean Election Commission where he served a five-year term. In addition, Mr. McKay served as a member of the investigative committee for the Arizona Dental Board during the same time period.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kay; sons Gibson (Rebecca) and Paul (Heather); and grandsons Jack, Finn, Sam, Charlie and Zach.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Little America Grand Ball Room, 2515 E. Butler Ave. Following the service, a ceremony and tree planting will be conducted at Knoles Elementary School, 4005 E. Butler Ave.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northern Arizona, 1338 W. Forest Meadow Road, No. 130, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Family and friends are encouraged to share their memories of David by visiting the online obituary guest book at ALMoore-Grimshaw.com.