John McKinlay
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Sport:
Crew |
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Year
Graduated: 1959 |
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Year
Inducted: 1985 |
By the time John McKinlay was rowing for the Boston University
crew team, he had already enjoyed a career many oarsman dream
about.
Former Terrier coxswain George McHugh recommended McKinlay
to Boston University coach Jim Nesworthy after hearing of
McKinlay's interest in going to college. It's not everyday
an elite athlete comes knocking at your door, so, after hearing
McKinlay's credentials from McHugh, Nesworthy offered a full
scholarship and McKinlay's career as a Terrier began.
Any coach would have been impressed with McKinlay's achievements.
Rowing out of the Detroit Boat Club, McKinlay was an alternate
at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki for the four with coxswain
boat that won the bronze medal. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne,
Australia, McKinlay along with his twin brother Arthur, won
the silver medal in the four without coxswain competition.
McKinlay rowed the three seat in that boat.
As a Terrier oarsman, McKinlay was an outstanding member
of the University's crew team and served as a team captain
in 1958.
In addition to the Olympic medals, McKinlay won five national
titles. All of these came before he entered Boston University.
In his 11 year career as an oarsman, McKinley also won eight
Canadian Henley championships and made the semifinals of the
Thames Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta in Great Britain.
In 1981, the United States Rowing Association induced McKinley
to the National Crew Hall of Fame along with the other members
of the 1956 silver medal boat.
