William Henry McKenney

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William Henry “Bill” McKenney was granted his Angel Wings on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in his home in Columbus, Ohio. Bill was born July 21, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY to William and Geraldine McKenney.

He graduated from Boys High School in 1962 with ambitions of playing Basketball. After graduation, Bill attended Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, CO on a Basketball Scholarship and then received another scholarship to attend Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, OK. Bill received his OHSAA Certification in Basketball in 1986 and Fast Pitch Softball Certification in1992.

He was a well-respected official everywhere he went and always had the student athlete’s best interest at heart. He loved everything about Basketball and Softball.

Bill is survived by his children, Shawn McKenney, Dionne McKenney, NeGre McKenney, William McKenney, III (Nantha), Carl Powell, Janean Powell; Siblings, Carla Finney-Pratt (John), Raquel McKenney-Maye (Michael), Patricia Clouden, Deborah Clouden and Henry Clouden; Several Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, and a host of Friends and Loved Ones.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents William McKenney & Geraldine McKenney, and daughter Mylanda McKenney-Mullins (Frank).

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Private Visitation 1:00 PM and Private Memorial Service 2:00 PM Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Chapel of Peace – East, 5456 E. Livingston Ave.

Condolence Messages

  1. To the McKenny family,
    I am so sorry for your loss. Bill was a fixture in central Ohio basketball officiating for years and he will be missed. I worked quite a few games with Bill over the years and enjoyed every one of them. I used to always tease him that he looked like Chuck Berry and I would always get that Bill laugh. Heaven gained an angel today.

  2. Lifting family up in continued prayer.

    • God bless you my friend. I heard the need officials in all sports in heaven. I will miss you. Sincerely. Jeff Weis.

  3. Enjoyed working with Bill at AAU game for 3rd graders.
    We had 36 Held balls. Bill was so patient and KIND.
    God Bless.

  4. My condolences to Bill’s family. I enjoyed working games with him, especially since we were both from New York.

  5. My condolences to the McKenny family

  6. Roger Greg Hopewell

    My thoughts and prayers to the family of Billy Mc as I called him, just remember all the good times I know I will he will be missed by many.

  7. Condolences to Bill’s family and his friend Pat. We all loved Bill very much. He was such a kind and gentle soul. He will be missed very much. May he rest in heaven.

  8. Bill will missed in many ways, but especially by our officiating friends in basketball and softball. His effort to keep his life always in a positive direction was inspirational. I remember him speaking of his mother in the Queens, New York City. He would periodically make trips there which showed me the love and caring he had for his mother. RIP!

  9. Prayers and condolences to the McKenny family.
    Bill was an official who cared about all the players from kids to adults.
    He was a great partner who always had your back when you worked with him
    Thanks for those opportunities
    He took proud in keeping a positive outlook on the court.
    Bill you will truly be missed my brother and friend.
    Rest In Peace

  10. May the God of all comfort be with you now and in the days ahead. I pray for your peace and strength in times like these. To Bill’s Oklahoma family I love you, God keep you..

  11. My condolences to the family of William ” Bill” McKinney. I met Bill many a years ago and he was instrumental in steering me to the officiating profession. Bill was a professional on the court, and a gentleman in life. He will be missed. R.I.P. Still Bill

  12. Prayers go out to Bills family and friends. He was a good soul and I was always glad to see and greet him on game days. He will be greatly missed by the basketball (family) community.

  13. Sending my love and condolences to the McKenney family. From the day I met “Billy”, as grandma McKenney called him, he was like another dad to me. He always greeted me with a hug and a smile. I will never forget the last conversation we had and the words you told me. Rest well pops.. You will truly be missed.

  14. Catherine Morgan (Sug) & Richard Morgan

    Sending my deepest sympathy to the McKenney family stay strong family and trust God he is now safe in the arms of God. Bill will truly be missed

  15. I want to offer my condolences to the family of Bill McKenney. Bill was a wonderful friend to me, as well as a sports official. I did MANY games with Bill. Bill ran several recreational leagues throughout Central Ohio, and I got many calls to come and officiate games from him. There was a saying amongst us officials, that ‘when Bill called, you HAD to to go.’ I say that with warmest memories and great sadness, because Bill helped so many of us. He carried a genuine presence of integrity, personality, and genuine caring. He helped many of us earn money via officiating. He was someone that I/ we could talk to, and he always listened. He gave us all names; mine was ‘J-Watt’, and his was ‘Billy Mac’. It was so great to just sit with him for a drink and food. His passing is a huge loss, for the local sports community, and the community as a whole. I have lost a dear friend and compatriot. My sympathies to all his family and friends.

  16. On Behalf Of The Jamison Family We Send Our Prayers & Condolences To Bills Family,I Knew Bill From Playing Basketball In Rec & Parks Leagues He Was A Great Official Who Called The Gm The Right Way & As I Got To Know Him Thru The Years I Found Out That He Was A Great Man As Well RIH Bill Your Legacy Lives On

  17. Randy Saunders

    Bill was such a great guy, I had the privilege of knowing him through officiating……You couldn’t ask for a person more knowledgeable and even tempered in game calling……no one could ever say a bad word about Bill…….because there aren’t any…..thanks to the family for sharing him out with us lesser sports officials….

  18. donald allemang

    i have only known bill for the last 5 years as he was one of the great umpires in the senior softball leagues. i got to know him better after the games when he would stop by my cooler and enjoy a pour of high end bourbon or irish wiskey. I always invited him over for a drink after the games, and he usually would stop by. he was always the complete gentleman and always engaged in great conversation. i only found out about his passing tonight at the softball diamonds when i asked about him. he will be truly missed.

    my condolences to his family, he was a great man.

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