BORDEN, Indiana — Any accolade you could give AJ McKinley would pale in comparison to what he deserves. At 92 years old, he's a man everyone in Borden seems to know.
This week, the southern Indiana community recognized McKinley for a lifetime of service.
WHAS11 met up with McKinley at Borden Jr/Sr High School. He sat in a chair at half court and began to relive almost a century's worth of his love for basketball, his community and his wife, Marilyn.
"Basketball's always been a very important part of my life," McKinley said.
The game was different back then.
"Of course, we didn't have the 3-point shot," he said. "We didn't even have the jump shot. In fact, I was leading scorer two years in a row and I only scored 20 points one time."
McKinley graduated from Borden High School 75 years ago, in 1949. He was captain of the boys’ varsity basketball team where he started as a freshman.
"I made the winning goal one night against Laconia. Tough game and came right down to the wire. I had the last shot and it went in. That was a thrill," McKinley said.
Then, he met Marilyn.
"He can remember our first date very well. August 1, 1948," his wife, Marilyn McKinley said.
She was 15. He was 16. They wrote letters back and forth during their college years before they made it official.
AJ McKinley went on to play baseball for Hanover College while working on his undergraduate studies and also served as an IHSAA basketball official during that time.
"He never asked me to marry him. We just kind of assumed that was going to happen," she said. "It's been a great romance."
"Seventy-two wonderful years to the sweetest wife in the world," AJ said.
It's a romance they've shared on and off the court. The two walked over to the gym's entrance and showed off their spot.
"It's a wonderful place to be," Marilyn said.
Borden legend: 'Everyone stops him.'
The couple are VIP guests wherever they go.
"When he walks through this door for a ball game, everyone stops him," Borden High School Principal Charlie Gardner said.
"It's a joy to see him come to all our athletic events, not just as a basketball fan, but tennis matches, volleyball games. Both of them," Toby Cheatham, the school's athletic director and assistant principal, said.
The McKinleys never miss a home game.
"We try to stay active and supportive of the school," AJ McKinley said.
Cheatham said McKinley's impact on the community has been immeasurable. He dedicated a half-time one night this month to McKinley and everything he's done for the school.
"After a brief stint in the world of industry, Mr. McKinley returned to Borden to teach Spanish for 28 years," Cheatham said. "During this time, he wore many hats, which included, but wasn’t limited to assistant principal for eight years -- while teaching full time -- managing the library, junior class sponsor, director of the senior play, yearbook advisor and varsity volleyball coach."
"[The McKinleys] coached the Braves to two pre-class sectional titles in 1983 and 1984," Cheatham added. "Amidst all these responsibilities, AJ’s passion for Borden boy's basketball led him to the scorer’s bench to keep the score book, a position his father held for the 17 years prior. AJ would continue in this role for the next 44 years (1956-2000), 10 years beyond retirement."
And that's just scratching the surface.
"He's a treasure," Gardner said. "I've never met anyone like him in my life. It's absolutely inspiring."
McKinley is also a dedicated Lion’s Club member, serving for 68 years with perfect attendance.
He's taught adult Sunday School Classes at the Community Church for over 40 years and continues to serve as Chairman of the Community Christmas Program, a position he has held for over 50 years. This program provides groceries, money and fruit to families in need. He's also hosted five Mexican exchange students, took four Spanish student groups to Mexico over Spring Break, and served on 10 mission trips to Honduras as a translator for a group of doctors providing eye glasses for citizens.
"I really love teaching, I love my kids," AJ said. "I actually taught some grandchildren of people that I taught."
'A guy we strive to be.'
Jeff Hunt grew up in Borden, graduating from high school in 1976. He said McKinley was his English and Spanish teacher, but also his baseball coach.
"You don't find them like AJ. He's a special person," Hunt said. "I guess he was always that person but I don't know if I appreciated it when I was 18, having to learn English and Spanish and he had that big red pen in his pocket correcting my papers. He's someone you look up to without hesitation. You want to be like AJ."
McKinley seeks no recognition for what he's done, though he's deserving of all of it.
Last Sunday, McKinley, his wife, and staff from Borden High traveled to Indianapolis, where McKinley received the Distinguished Service Award from a group of Indiana Athletic Directors, called the IIAAA.
Nominated by Cheatham, he was up against at least a dozen others in his district and won.
The announcement ended in a standing ovation. The only one of the night.
"He's just a guy who wants to leave this world better than he found it. A guy we strive to be," Cheatham said.
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