Anchorage 1910 - 1940 Legends & Legacies

McKinney, William D. "Bill"

1901-1995 | Fire Chief, Alaska Railroad

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William David "Bill" McKinney was born February 7, 1901 in Sulphur Wells, Kentucky. He left home at an early age and joined the U.S. Army. While in the service as a private, he was accused of punching his sergeant in the nose, and was given the choice of a dishonorable discharge or service in Alaska. He chose Alaska. He first arrived in Fort William A. Seward at Haines, near the head of the Lynn Canal in southeastern Alaska, in 1918.[1] "Bill," as he was known, was soon transferred to Anchorage, where the military detachment was in need of his skills as a bugler.

In Anchorage McKinney met Alice Ellen Loftquist, who had come there with her parents in 1915 from Portland, Oregon, where she was born on March 21, 1904. Alice's father, Carl Loftquist, built the Kenai Hotel, the first rooming house in Anchorage. It was located on the north side of 4th Avenue between B and C Streets. C.A. “Grandma” Loftquist, Alice's mother, operated the hotel while Carl plied his trade as plumber. C.A. Loftquist died in 1929, and Carl died in Portland, Oregon in March 1934. Mrs. Loftquist is buried in Tract 3, Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery and Carl is buried in Portland, Oregon.[2]

William McKinney and Alice Loftquist were married in Anchorage in 1920, and lived in various locations prior to owning their own home. For a period of time, he worked for the Alaska Railroad at Moose Creek and at Girdwood. He next lived on the McCain Ranch, on Spenard Road near what was then called Deadman's Curve, and tried a hand at raising turkeys, which was unsuccessful because a loose dog killed all of the birds. In 1929, he acquired a new truck and, with partner Jerry Sigmund, started the Federal Transfer Company, doing general hauling of materials including coal and wood.

In the meantime McKinney's family kept growing, and he needed steady employment. He was offered a job with the Alaska Railroad again, this time in the mechanical department shops. He then worked as relief man in the fire department and in a matter of years worked his way up to being the railroad's fire chief.

In 1934, the McKinneys acquired a homestead at Fireweed Lane that ran from Arctic Boulevard to B Street. A cabin on the homestead became their new home, and they constantly kept improving the home and property.

McKinney campaigned for the establishment of the Anchorage Independent School District. On May 13, 1947, an independent school district was approved by the voters and a five-member district school board was elected. He was elected to its board of directors in 1949-1950. The Anchorage Independent School District is now called the Anchorage School District.[3] Two schools were built during his term and land was purchased for the first school in Spenard.[4]

McKinney became active over the years in helping to develop the Spenard Volunteer Fire Department. As fire chief of the Alaska Railroad, McKinney helped form a mutual aid pact between the City of Anchorage, U.S. Army, and the Alaska Railroad to allow for fire protection in Spenard. He was also instrumental in obtaining fire equipment for the Spenard Volunteer Fire Department.

Bill McKinney retired from the Alaska Railroad in 1952 after twenty-seven years of government service. Not one to remain idle, he started a landscaping business, McKinley Garden Service, and operated it for ten years. In 1962 he sold out his business, and he and Alice McKinney moved to Forest Grove, Oregon.[5]

McKinney was a lifetime member of the Anchorage Elks Club, past president of the American Legion, and a member of the Pioneers of Alaska. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Spenard Public Utilities District (later merged into the Greater Anchorage Area Borough), and served on its board of directors.

Bill and Alice McKinney were one of only two couples married in Anchorage in 1920, the year of the incorporation of Anchorage as a city. In 1970, they received recognition for this from Anchorage Mayor George M. Sullivan as part of the commemoration of the city's 50th Anniversary celebration of its incorporation on November 23, 1920.

Alice McKinney died on December 15, 1971 in Oregon. Soon after her death, McKinney moved to Scottsburg, Indiana to be with his widowed sisters.

William D. McKinney, Sr. died at the Veterans Hospital in Portland, Oregon on September 9, 1995 at the age of ninety-five. He was buried at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. His first wife, Alice, was also buried at Willamette National Cemetery.[6]

In addition to his second wife, Mary Frances, he was survived by four of their five children: William, Jr., Clara, Herbert, and Shirley. Daughter Eva Ellen Snyder died in 1980.12, 2016).

 

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