Editorial: The life of Walter McKinley

Memorial services for longtime Green Valley “dynamo” Walter Daniel McKinley, 99, will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Silver Springs.

The solemn occasion will be an opportunity to remember one of the great community leaders Green Valley has been proud to know. It also will be a chance to celebrate the life of a man who made a difference by serving his friends, neighbors and community with vision, intelligence and pure talent.

McKinley’s life was incredible. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1933, married Lucielle McKenzie in 1934 and had two sons. His family was a foundation for a career and life based on service to others, reflected in his motto, “Enjoy the actions, challenges and rewards of community activity.”

The chemical engineer helped develop one of the world’s venerable products, Teflon, when he was employed by DuPont. McKinley also worked on the Manhattan Project, the secret World War II experiment that ushered in the atomic age. He spent 20 years on the city council in Vernona, Iowa, also serving as mayor.

If those accomplishments were not enough to last a lifetime, McKinley retired to Green Valley in 1977. His decision to come here was a blessing. McKinley immersed himself in volunteer work, including 13 years as board member and chairman of the Green Valley Fire District. The “human dynamo,” as his friends called him, was the driving force in developing what he called the “finest ambulance and paramedic service in the state.”

He was only getting started in working with the Fire District. McKinley later served as president of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council in 1982-83. He also was a member of the Green Valley Recreation board of directors, where he instituted a three-and five-year budget planning process.

Among his other accomplishments, McKinley was one of the organizers of the Green Valley Community Fund with former resident Louis Black.

McKinley, the late Perc Williams and social worker Edythe Taylor started Green Valley Assistance Services, a vital support for residents in need.

In his life, McKinley made things happen. In addition to being an inventor, scientist and public servant, McKinley was a diplomat. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, asked McKinley, a Republican, to organize disparate groups of volunteers, the first step in creating the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers.

McKinley will be remembered for courageously stepping forward during the great flood of 1983, when Interstate 19 was closed and Green Valley and the surrounding areas were cut off from many life essentials. McKinley personally directed efforts to shelter several hundred residents at East Center during the worst days of the flood, when many residents had to evacuate their homes. He organized the rescue effort, and working with the Sheriff’s Department and SAV, called in the National Guard, obtained food to feed stranded residents and made sure they were safe.

Green Valley honored McKinley in 1997. Fire Station 152, located at the corner of Camino del Sol and Camino Encanto, was named in his honor. McKinley had long fought for the second station to serve Green Valley’s expanding population. A proclamation issued by fellow Fire Board members was read in his honor, praising his “legendary vision” and dedication to improving medical emergency and firefighting services.

McKinley’s death is a sad occasion for his family and for Green Valley. He made a huge difference and was one of a kind.

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