$100K scholarship gift benefits WVU Statler College civil engineering students in memory of late U.S. Rep. David McKinley

The family of longtime civil engineer and lawmaker David B. McKinley is honoring his wish to establish a $100,000 scholarship to benefit future engineers studying at the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

The McKinley family's gift endows the David B. McKinley Civil Engineering Scholarship, which will be awarded to undergraduate civil engineering students from West Virginia with preference for those from Ohio County.

The scholarship was established through his estate plans and an abundance of gifts from legislative and work colleagues, friends and family in his memory. McKinley died April 17 at the age of 79.

"This scholarship eases the financial burden for our students from West Virginia and allows them to stay focused on their academic and professional goals," Lian-Shin Lin, professor and chair of the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said. "By supporting West Virginia students who are making strong progress, it will directly strengthen the future engineering workforce of our state. We are thankful to the McKinley family for the gift."

A native of Wheeling, McKinley earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in 1970. He then worked in the construction industry before founding what is now McKinley Architecture and Engineering in the early 1980s. He was involved with $1.2 billion in construction projects in West Virginia and beyond during his 30-plus years as president of the firm.

McKinley served the Mountain State for decades as an elected official, first as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1981-1994 and later as a U.S. congressman from 2011-2023. He also served as chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party from 1990-1994.

His engineering background was a lifelong source of pride that also guided his approach to addressing challenges. Throughout his political career, he always insisted on including the P.E. credential after his name to indicate he was a licensed professional engineer.

"David would often say at the time he was the only professional engineer in Congress, bringing a problem-solving, common sense approach to the issues," Mary McKinley, his wife of 45 years, said. "He would joke that there were over 200 lawyers serving, but he liked those odds."

Dozens of friends and supporters contributed to McKinley's namesake scholarship after his passing, building upon his philanthropic legacy at WVU. David and Mary McKinley have generously supported the University for many years with previous gifts to benefit the Statler College, WVU School of Nursing, WVU Medicine Golisano Children's, the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Athletics.

David McKinley supported WVU by steering state and federal funding to the University and participating in WVU activities such as energy and economic forums, undergraduate research presentations and the West Virginia Science Bowl. He also was a big fan of the Mountaineer sports teams.

"We sat in the same seats for over 40 years, in row 10, section 105, and attended every home football game that we could," Mary McKinley said. "Sun, rain, cold or snow, he wanted to be there to cheer the Mountaineers on."

Mary McKinley was a longtime critical care nurse who earned her master's degree in nursing from WVU in 1982. The McKinley family also includes four children and seven grandchildren.

The McKinley family's gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.

-WVU-

cr/5/20/26

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