Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Olen McKinney

Olen Alfred McKinney, the oldest of 11 children, was born on January 5, 1919, to the late Anthony E. McKinney and Cornelia Wallace in Rosston (Nevada County).

His early education was in Rosston, where he graduated in 1938. He served in the United States Army and subsequently attended A.M.& N. College (University Arkansas Pine Bluff) in Pine Bluff and received his masters degree in 1947. He married Thelma Wallace on August 28, 1950. In 1965 he received his PhD. at the University of California Berkeley.

McKinney worked for the Berkeley Unified School District 27 years. He was a counselor at Burbank Jr. High School during 1955-56 school year. He was then appointed Dean of Boys at Garfield Jr. High during the 1964-65 school year. During the 1967-68 school year he was appointed Vice Principal of Garfield where he worked until he retired in June 1982.

He accepted Christ at an early age at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Willisville, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dan Anthony. He later relocated to the Berkeley, Calif., area and united with Down Memorial Methodist Church where he was a steward of the church. McKinney was also an Alpha Phi Alpha and member of University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (northern California) and Amos Lodge #14 AFF and AM.

McKinney is survived by his wife of 52 years, Thelma Wallace of Berkeley, Calif.; a foster daughter, Doris Risby of Hot Springs; a stepmother, Mildred McKinney of Camden; four sisters, Wilma Hanson, (James B.) Of Cleveland, Ohio, Corrine Smith of Hot Springs, Gladys Gullery (Willie) of Milwaukee, Wisc, and Melverdia McKinney of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Anthony E. McKinney of Camden. He also leaves to cherish his memory a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.