Sad news. OregonAggie1 died today. He had been in decline for a couple of years, but the end was fairly precipitous. He became confused last weekend. He was taken to the hospital, where he was found to be in acute kidney failure. He went home on hospice on Thursday, and died quietly today.

Forget the Dos Equis guy, OregonAggie1 was the most interesting man in the world. Originally from Chicago, he attended Utah State on the recommendation of his older brother, graduating with a BS in history. He was a Sigma Chi, and once shined Merlin Olson's shoes, when Merlin was back visiting campus. He spent a semester abroad, studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, then traveling across Europe on a Vespa. After graduation, he spent some time writing for the Salt Lake Tribune, under that SOB John Mooney. He joined the Utah National Guard, and was deployed to Chicago during the Days of Rage at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. He told me he was standing on a street corner in full combat gear, holding an M-1, scared stiff that someone on a rooftop would take a shot at him. After the Trib, he took a job teaching junior high history in Las Vegas. While in Vegas, he enjoyed sailing competitively on Lake Mead, and playing competitive amateur tennis. He got a masters in history from UNLV, mostly working nights and weekends. His thesis was on the history of the Arizona strip. It included original research, including retracing the Dominguez-Escalante expedition from the original notes of the padres. While doing that, he found a grotto in a lava field, with a cross carved in the back, something the padres had described. He told me he was probably the first white man to see it in 200 years. After Vegas, he came to Oregon to become the director of the Oregon State Fair. He got his pilot's license, and barnstormed the Willamette Valley. He and some pilot friends built from scratch some exact replica WW-1 French Nieuport fighter planes, which they subsequently flew. Being a bit of a thrill seeker, and having more enthusiasm than brains, one day he was flying his cessna so low the tires were brushing the tops of the wheat in a field. Unfortunately, he didn't see a fence, which caught the wheels and flipped his plane. He had lingering back issues from that. He did a six month Fulbright fellowship in India, to assess and make recommendations regarding the Indian educational system. After retiring from the State Fair, he taught history at the Oregon Youth Correctional high school. He leaves behind his dear wife (a Ute, but we still love her) and two daughters (one a BYU-I grad, one an Aggie). When I came to Oregon 18 1/2 years ago, he took me under his wing. He was a great friend, and a great Aggie. I will miss him terribly.

Sorry for your loss, LK -- what a life your friend lived!

Great Tribute. Thanks for sharing.

Good stuff and a testament to the Aggie brotherhood.

Is it possible now that he's passed to mention his name? I personally don't know who he is outside of OregonAggie1. no problem is that is not to be shared. just wondering.

We've lost several great Aggies over the last 12ish months. May he rest in peace.

So sorry to hear this. Thanks for the great tribute and for letting us know, LK. I always enjoyed reading his posts and takes on all things Aggies. For oregonaggie1,,,, I leave this tribute.

tipitup wrote: ↑

January 11th, 2021, 10:30 am

Is it possible now that he's passed to mention his name? I personally don't know who he is outside of OregonAggie1. no problem is that is not to be shared. just wondering.

I've been careful to avoid using his name, but you're right. Now that he's gone, I assume it shouldn't be a problem. Moderators, if it is, please take this down.

William Victor McKinley. Bill to his friends, which was pretty much everyone who knew him. I used to call him "Father Bill", and we used to refer to our weekly Saturday lunch at the local greasy spoon as my trips to the confessional. He was the one person I could share all of my problems with. He was a sympathetic ear, and knew how to keep a secret. $20 for lunch with Father Bill was a whole lot cheaper than seeing a shrink, and probably more effective.

Thanks for sharing, LK. My deepest sympathies to Bill's family and friends.

BearLakeMonster wrote: ↑

January 11th, 2021, 1:37 pm

Thanks for sharing, LK. My deepest sympathies to Bill's family and friends.

RIP Aggie Brother!

Sorry for your loss my Aggie brother. And sorry to hear we lost a great Aggie.

What a great writeup and tribute. My best wishes to you and his family and other friends.

Wow, that sounds like a man who did not waste his time on this planet - that is some serious living!