Colonel McKay died at his residence on November 19, 2018, at age 80. He was born in Fitzgerald, GA to Donald M. McKay, Sr. and Gloria Parker McKay. He entered active duty in 1962 after serving 5 ½ years with the Georgia Army National Guard (ARMOR) and being designated a distinguished military graduate of the Infantry ROTC Program at Georgia Tech. He served in various troop assignments to include: Rifle and Weapon Platoon Leader, Rifle Company XO and Company Commander, Infantry Battalion XO, and Special Forces Group XO, Deputy Commander, and Deputy Post Commander. He held staff jobs at all levels from battalion through major command, to include: Assistant Battalion S3, Brigade Adjutant, Deputy division G1, Corps of AC of S, G1, Chief of Officer Management Division, and FORSCOM Personnel Staff Officer for the Enlisted Personnel Management Branch, Military Personnel Division. He served in Germany, Thailand and Vietnam, and Panama. He also served in various Army posts in the United States.
His awards include: The Silver Star, three Bronze Stars (two for Valor), three awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals (one for Valor), the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and various Vietnamese awards. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Special Forces Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Jungle Expert Patch, and Jump Wings from Thailand, Vietnam, Panama, and Canada.
Colonel McKay holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Textile Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Masters Degree in Management from Webster University. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi while at Tech.
It was at Georgia Tech where he met his future wife, Nancy Patricia (Pat) Maughon McKay. They married April 12, 1961. He is survived by his wife Pat, two sons: Donald M. McKay, III (Donnie) of Acworth, GA and his wife Tami, Michael B. McKay (Mike) of Columbus, GA, and one daughter: Nancy Christian Komar (Chris) of Carmel, CA and her husband Scott, and brother Wright McKay of Jacksonville, FL. His grandchildren are Dylan McKay, Colton McKay, Morgan Ewing, Emily McKay, Chason McKay, Joseph Ewing, Chandler McCann, and Sebastian Swetoha.
After retirement from the Army in June, 1988, Colonel McKay worked at A.G. Edwards as a stock broker. At the time he was active in Kiwanis Club of Columbus serving on the board of directors, President, and Lt. Governor. He was also active in the Georgia Tech Club of Columbus, serving as President and was selected as Leadership Columbus Alumni of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
In recognition of Colonel McKay’s distinguished military career, he was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
A Celebration of Colonel McKay’s Life will be Friday, November 23, 2018 at 1:00 PM, in Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Rd. Columbus, GA, with Reverend Mark Magoni officiating, followed by a Committal Service and Burial at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery with full military honors at 2:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Colonel Donald M. McKay, Jr. to the Georgia Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame at www.GMVHOF.org. Fond memories and condolences may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com.
