John McKee (American football)

Dr. John S. McKee Sr. (July 26, 1877-April 22, 1950) was an American football coach and a Physician in the United States. He served as the head football coach at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now North Carolina State University, from 1899 to 1900 and at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1901, compiling a career college football record of 1–12–2. McKee's record at NC State was 1–6 with the lone win coming against Davidson in his final game with the school in 1900, featuring a 27–6 score. His record at Georgia Tech was 0–6–2 in 1901. John Heisman took over the program in 1904.

McKee coached the Offensive Line at the University of Georgia in the same season following his tenure at Georgia Tech. An excerpt from an article entitled “Georgia is Preparing for Supreme Strength” from the Atlanta Constitution dated November 25, 1901 states that “The arrival of Coach McKee, who has done such excellent work in developing the Tech team this year, has caused Georgia’s prospects of winning the Auburn game to wax brighter. Mr. McKee’s advent on the field yesterday was marked by an improvement in the work of the varsity. He put a lot of ginger into the work of the team and will be of great assistance to Head Coach Reynolds in rounding the university team to its maximum strength.” Incidentally, McKee sued the Georgia Institute of Technology in June 1902 for breach of contract for the amount of $500. (The NC State and Georgia Tech websites have a discrepancy in the years coached; based on the newspaper accounts, the dates of tenure are correct in this article.)

Dr. McKee was born and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, the son of Dr. James McKee and Mildred Sasser McKee. He received his education at the Raleigh Male Academy. McKee played for the football team at The University of North Carolina as an Offensive Tackle from 1897–1899 where he was also a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. Following his football coaching career he received a medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1907, and entered into medical practice in his hometown of Raleigh. He achieved the rank of Major in the American Expeditionary Forces as a Field Surgeon with the 1st Gas Regiment in World War I. Following the War Dr. McKee returned to Raleigh where he was the City Physician until 1948. “Dr. John” was very well known throughout the state of North Carolina for his gruff but compassionate sense of humor and his propensity to curse. He loved to drive a T-Model Ford Automobile; in fact, when Ford discontinued the car, Dr. McKee refused to drive any longer despite the fact he was issued a new Buick every year by the Raleigh city fathers. Police officers and Firemen took him on his rounds every morning!

Dr. McKee died in Morganton, North Carolina on April 22, 1950, at the home of his son, Dr. John S. McKee III (who was the Superintendent of Broughton State Mental Hospital at the time).