McKay, Jim 1921–2008

(James Kenneth McManus)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born September 24, 1921, in Philadelphia, PA; died June 7, 2008, in Monkton, MD. Broadcast journalist, sports reporter, television host, and author. McKay began his career in print journalism as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun in 1946. By the end of the decade he had moved on to a local television station. A year later he moved to the Columbia Broadcasting System in New York City, changed his professional name from Jim McManus to Jim McKay to host a program called The Real McKay, and never looked back. McKay served an apprenticeship as a variety show host, weather forecaster, sports reporter, and occasional radio interviewer for the network affiliate. In 1961 he became the host of the perennial Wide World of Sports for the network rival American Broadcasting Companies. That is where McKay worked in 1972, when he was assigned to cover the Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. He was there as the kidnapping and execution of the Israeli Olympic team by Arab terrorists unfolded, and he anchored sixteen unbroken hours of network coverage of the tragic event. McKay's reportage bound Americans to their television sets, and his calm presence earned him the George Polk journalism award of Long Island University and the first of many Emmy Awards: one for sports and another for news coverage, a unique honor for a sports reporter. McKay became the voice of the Olympics, appearing at the games as a guest even as late as 2002, after the broadcast had moved to another network. McKay was also the voice of the Wide World of Sports for decades, having coined the show's familiar opening phrase "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." In his trademark down-to-earth style, McKay took viewers to the ends of the earth, featuring traditional sports and introducing many new ones, both big and small, with equal respect. His lack of pretension made him a popular host, whether the subject was ice skating or one of his personal favorites: thoroughbred racing, auto racing, and golf. McKay received many awards in his long and distinguished career. Among them, he was inducted into the Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1987, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame shortly afterward, and the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1995. McKay was the author of two memoirs, My Wide World (1973) and The Real McKay: My Wide World of Sports (1998).

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

BOOKS

McKay, Jim, My Wide World, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1973.

McKay, Jim, The Real McKay: My Wide World of Sports, foreword by Peter Jennings, Dutton (New York, NY), 1998.

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, June 8, 2008, p. B10.

Times (London, England), June 11, 2008, p. 53.

Washington Post, June 8, 2008, p. C8.