Robert “Bob” McKay

ROBERT McKAY Teacher/Coach Robert “Bob” McKay spent his entire 42 year teaching career at Ottawa Township High School. He came to OTHS in 1927 after being honored as an All-Big Ten basketball player at the University of Illinois. McKay was the head varsity coach of football, basketball, and track at OTHS in the late 1920’s and through the 1930’s. His 1934 football team was undefeated. McKay’s teaching career was interrupted in 1942, serving his country as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon his return to OTHS he reorganized the Ottawa Cadet Corps and established one of the earliest and best driver education programs in the nation. He held various state and national offices in driver education associations, and was one of the top track and field officials in the State of Illinois. In the late 1930’s he scheduled the first interscholastic football games across state boundaries with a high school in Gulfport, Mississippi. He continued to innovate and broaden the educational experiences of his students throughout his educational career.