By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Bill McKinney, longtime St. Joseph Parks Director, known for his love of the city and passion for softball, has died at the age of 82.

McKinney guided the city Parks and Recreation Department for nearly 30 years. He retired in 2015 and shortly after his retirement, the city named the Heritage Park Softball Complex after him. The honor was appropriate for a man recognized as one of the premier fast-pitch softball pitchers in the nation. McKinney was a member of the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.

Current Parks Director, Chuck Kempf, worked for McKinney for 10 years and took over the department after McKinney retired.

“Bill was an extremely resourceful and creative person who was able to get the most out of physical, financial and human resources to create facilities and programs for the benefit of the citizens of St. Joseph. People enjoyed working with Bill due to his infectious personality and his passion and commitment to make St. Joseph a better place to live,” Kempf told St. Joseph Post in an email statement.

During his tenure, McKinney became a driving force in creation of the Remington Nature Center as well as the St. Joseph Aquatic Park and St. Joseph REC Center.

McKinney’s presence was well known in St. Joseph for his great love of the community, his projects and the great legacy he’s left behind.

A graduate of Lafayette High School, McKinney earned both a bachelors and a masters degree in education from the University of Missouri, where he played football on a scholarship.

Farewell Services are scheduled at 1pm Tuesday at McCarthy Baptist Church with interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory this evening, beginning at 5pm. The family requests donations be made to the St. Joseph Parks & Recreation Department – Special Park Projects fund, the mission fund at McCarthy Baptist Church or to Samaritan’s Purse – Operation Christmas Child.

Click here for the obituary.