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McKee named to Groveport Hall of Honor
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - December 02, 2009)
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| Photos from the 1965 Madisonian |
| JIM MCKEE |
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| Jim McKee excelled at baseball, football, and basketball while at Groveport Madison High School in the mid 1960s. |
I can remember, when I was a kid, seeing Jim McKee:
•as a lanky pitcher, scuffing the dirt on the pitcher's mound with his cleats on the "big diamond" behind Groveport School, preparing to unleash an unhitable pitch that would later earn him a spot in the major leagues;
•in his red and black #20 jersey towering over other football players as he tossed passes downfield on the old gridiron behind the former Groveport Madison High School;
•gliding across the old tile gym floor, scoring and rebounding at will in basketball games at the old high school.
Now visitors at the Groveport Recreation Center will remember him, too, as McKee will be inducted into the Groveport Hall of Honor that is located in the facility. The date and time of the induction ceremony has not yet been announced.
Groveport Councilman Shawn Cleary said his late father, who was a long time avid follower of Cruiser athletics, once told him that McKee "was by far one of the best all around athletes to ever come out of Groveport."
Born in 1947, McKee was a three sport (baseball, basketball, and football) varsity letter winner at Groveport Madison High School from 1962-65. He was named to the All Mid-8 League team in baseball twice, basketball three times, and football once. He helped lead the Cruisers to Mid-8 League championships in football (1963) and basketball (1963-64).
As quarterback of the 1963 football squad, he lead a high powered offense that scored 243 points in nine games, a mark that was only recently bested by the 2009 football Cruisers who tallied 299 points in 10 games.
As a baseball player, McKee is said to have hit a home run at the old Groveport diamond that cleared the fence into the far distant football field - which is a prodigious poke.
Following his Cruiser career, the 6'7", 215 pound McKee, a right hander, went on to excel in athletics at Otterbein College. In 1969 he was drafted in the fourth round as a pitcher by the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates where he played for two years from 1972-73. He is believed to be the only Cruiser to ever reach baseball's major leagues.
When his playing career ended, McKee came back to the Groveport Madison school district and served as a physical education and health teacher. He also coached varsity track and varsity girls basketball at Groveport Madison High School.
As a teacher and coach, Cleary said McKee was known for taking extra time to help train and guide student athletes so they would get the most out of their abilities.
A car accident tragically took McKee's life in 2002, but he remains fondly remembered in the community.
About the Groveport Hall of Honor
If you would like to nominate someone for the Groveport Hall of Honor, nomination forms can be obtained from and returned to: Groveport Parks & Recreation Department, Attention: Hall of Honor Nomination, 7370 Groveport Road, Groveport, OH 43125. Inductions tentatively take place in February.
The purpose of the Hall of Honor is to recognize individuals (living or deceased) who through their performance and achievements (volunteer service, public service, athletic endeavors or other related service) reflect credit on the village of Groveport. Nominees must have lived in the village for a minimum of 10 years.
The Hall of Honor is located in the Groveport Recreation Center. For information call 836-1000.
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