The two-time track team MVP captained the Crusaders to the 1976 All-Catholic championship while earning individual All-Catholic honors six times throughout his career. McKinnie also won All-Western New York honors five times and captured a state title in the 400 meters.
McKinnie's reflection:
I want to start out by thanking God, from whom all blessings flow! And my time at Canisius High School was and certainly continues to be a blessing! I would like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee and Father Ciancimino for the honor of being included with my esteemed brothers of the Blue & Gold who are not only being honored today, but all those who have gone before us.
I want to thank my mom & dad, the late Mr. & Mrs. George & LaVerne McKinnie, who never missed a track meet and always cheered me on no matter the circumstances. I know they are proud of me today! I can hear my dad in his southern accent saying, “Alright now!” My list of thanks goes on and would take volumes of writing to include everyone.
Now for the great coaches and mentors here at Canisius High School. Let me acknowledge Mr. Sala, who was my freshman track coach. Mr. Sala encouraged me to keep trying; I was horrible in my 1st 100-yard dash. Mr. Sala, you were right it did work out! And the late great, and I mean great, Mr. James Skipper. Mr. Skipper was such an important part of my growth not only as a runner but also as a person. Yes, I’m tearing up as I write this. Mr. Skipper always said, “You are a winner today if you leave the track knowing that you did your very best, no matter what place you finished!” That instilled in me that there’s something more to sports than winning or losing. Something that Canisius High School as a whole lives by: AMDG “ad majorem Dei gloriam” latin for “For The Greater Glory of God.” I am also grateful to Mr. Jeff Gemmer, another great example of coaching and teaching, not just sports but life as well. Again, I could rattle on and on about the great influences on this side of the Blue Doors. However it would be endless. Thank you to all the teachers and coaches of Canisius High School. I do have a special thank you for Mrs. Kathleen Skipper, who shared her husband with us as student athletes of CHS. When I was learning how to run, I actually went to the library to read books written on the subject. Yep, there was no internet, and I would call Mr. Skipper at home with questions sometimes more than once in a day. Now in adulthood I realize it was usually around dinner time and never once did Mrs. Skipper say “Aren’t you going to see Karl at school tomorrow?” Thank you, Mrs. Skipper. And another very special thank you to Richard Spears, who nominated me for this honor.
I want to thank my teammates over the four years we traveled together, laughed together, and sometimes cried together. I know I did when we lost to Bishop Turner junior year! Our friendships remain until this day.
Thank you to everyone in attendance today and again to the Canisius High School Athletic Hall of Fame for this great honor. I am truly, truly grateful for being honored and enshrined here at Canisius High School! As we say, “This place is special.”
