Frank A. McKinney (Southeast)

Frank's Story Frank was born on September 21, 1944 to soldier Frank Albert Austin and the lovely Christibel McKinney in Sugar Grove, Ky. Frank often told stories of growing up on his grandfather's 300 acre farm. He milked cows, rode horses, fished, hunted and explored. His eyes sparkled eighty years later whenever he talked about his days on the farm with his special grandfather, Mr. James McKinney. At State Street High School in Bowling Green, he was an excellent student as well as a leader in athletics. He excelled in baseball, basketball and football until he broke his leg at the end of his junior year. After graduating from high school, he traveled to Terrel Texas to attend Southwestern Christian College, a two year college. He completed his education at Oklahoma Christian College in Oklahoma City, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He was a star basketball player at Southwestern Christian College and Coached Basketball at Oklahoma Christian College. Go Frank! After completing college, he went to Detroit Michigan and worked for the Urban League. Frank soon earned a Master of Industrial Relations degree from Michigan State University and began working as a Manager of Industrial Relations at Ford Motor Company. Frank absolutely loved arbitration, helping Ford settle disputes between their workers and management, and all the other facets of human resources and staffing. Frank eventually moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work for Frito Lay and was responsible for Human Resources for the states of Florida and Tennessee. It is in Atlanta that he met his very sweet soul-mate, Karen Butler. After just four months of dating, Frank got on his knees and asked Karen to marry him. But of course, Karen had rules. First, Frank had to formally get Karen's dad's permission for her hand and then go to Virginia to meet the family. Karen's whole family was smitten by Frank. Her father, Dr. Wendell Butler, a Dentist and Vice Mayor of Roanoke was especially impressed. Frank talked with him as a peer, man to man, which Karen's dad liked. He told Karen that Frank was very "matured." So, her dad of course approved the marriage and the best chapters of Frank's and Karen's lives were about to begin. The next spring, on April 18, 1981, Frank and Karen got married. Four years later they welcomed a beautiful baby boy, Frank Stephen. Frank couldn't stop laughing! He was finally a DAD! Three years later, while working in Memphis, he welcomed his beautiful baby girl, Kimberly Diane. GIRL DAD World here he comes! Frank was a super dad and husband. From 1984 - 1991, Frank worked in his own executive search business called Butler Associates. Self employment means sometimes you have feast and sometimes you have famine. So, in 1991, he accepted a job with Digital Equipment Corporation in Nashville as a Unit Technical Support Manager providing customer and employee relations and support. While in Nashville, Frank had a favorite basketball and football team, the University of Louisville Cardinals. If the Cards were not playing on TV, he would listen to the game sitting in his car in the driveway. So, when he had the opportunity in 1993, he moved his family to Louisville. Finally, he was back home in Kentucky. Go Cards! Frank initially worked for Louisville Gas and Electric as a Manager in Corporate Employment and Staffing. He directed and managed recruitment. His final place of employment though was at his dream location ...THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE . There he was recruited by the Dean of the College of Business to establish and direct a career development center called the Ulmer Center . Frank loved U of L. Church was a big part of Frank's life. He would read the Bible with a highlighter or pen in hand almost every night of his adult life. He loved Christ and his teachings. One of his friends described Frank as having open hands that were used for "accepting and giving to others". Frank, Karen, Stephen and Kim placed their membership at Southeast Christian Church. At Southeast, Frank was very active in Bible Study Groups. He also led the Career Care Ministry that helped the unemployed find jobs during the recession. Frank loved Worshipping. Frank wanted to share his love for sports with his children. He assisted his brother Neal in coaching the Little League Baby Black Sox Baseball Team of West Louisville RAP (Reaching All People) . This team consisted of players from Newburg competing in the West End League. They won the championship two years in a row. Frank started an AAU basketball program called Team Louisville that recruited top middle school players throughout the city. Frank had a vision of a new generation of athletes that would share his love and passion for the game. He also was a firm believer that being involved in sports would develop confidence in kids and prepare them for success in whatever challenges they faced later in life. It did just that. Team Louisville played all over the southeastern part of the United States and won many tournaments. They even played in the national tournament in Orlando, Florida. Many of the ball players went on to play college ball and several went on to play professional ball. Frank loved developing young athletes. Frank is reunited in heaven with his mother Christibel, his sister Joyce McKinney, and his brother James McKinney. Frank is survived by his wife Karen, his children Stephen and Kimberly, and his granddaughter Zara; his brother Ronald (Geraldine) McKinney, his brother William (Sandra) McKinney, his brother Neal McKinney, his baby sister Clematis McKinney, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends who he loved very much. Frank left all of us with memories of joy, laughter, and love! Frank McKinney's Celebration of Life will be Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Services will start at 4:00 p.m. at Southeast Christian Church, 920 Blankenbaker Pkwy, Louisville, KY 40243 in the Fellowship Hall which is on the 1st floor. Please feel free to wear color. Frank was joyous! Tickets, on eventbrite below, are for head count purposes only and will not be required for entry. If link is confusing, don't do it, just come :). No password needed. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-life-frank-mckinney-tickets-1043091744487)

Frank A. McKinney (Southeast)

September 21, 1944 - October 6, 2024