Former Mustangs fly-half William “Bill” McKee passed away Sunday, May 10 after an extended battle with cancer. He was 67.
As fly-half, Bill “Good Looking” McKee guided the Mustangs to the 1977 Santa Barbara championship, among a plethora of other matches during his fine career in a Cal Poly uniform.
“He was a man of few words,” Director for Mustangs Rugby Inc. Doug Smith said. “So when he spoke, people listened. He was the conduit linking a very powerful scrum to a fleet backline that crossed the try line many times.”
He was a selfless player who understood his role for the greater good of the team, according to Smith.
McKee was born in Pittsburgh, Calif. in November of 1952, where he graduated from Pittsburgh High School. He went on to Cal Poly and eventually earned a degree in engineering technology.
Bill was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He also worked for PG&E and the Pipefitters Union at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, and, after 18 years of working for the City of San Luis Obispo, retired. He was known as a “quiet, patient man, who kept his priceless sense of humor until the end,” according to his obituary in The Tribune.
Trevor McKee, son
My Dad was not only a wonderful father but a loyal, funny, and supportive friend. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t want to call or text him about something interesting or fun that happened at work. Like someone else mentioned, he was a skilled craftsman, and steered me into the trades where I channel his creativity, satisfaction, and patience. There is an infinite hole in my heart – I miss you so much Dad! Thank you for being an incredible human and role model. Cheers to you.
Janis Knecht, friend
Oh my God! It is hard to believe that Bill has passed. What a wonderful person he was, and the fun I had with Bill & Gina and the Kids as they were growing up. I practically lived at their house, having coffee with Gina in the morning in my pajamas and going back over in the evenings for cocktails on the deck with Bill & Gina. Bill loved to work on restoring his trucks along with Joey and his friends. He was always working in his beloved shop. He was so proud of his Kids and what they had become. He loved his grandchildren dearly. When Bill & Gina moved from San Luis Obispo, it almost broke my heart. I have never loved two people so much. They were among my best friends. I could hardly wait to hear from Bill & Gina when they would come & visit Joey because that meant they would call me and I would get together with them one more time just like old times. Bill will ever be missed by me. On day again, I will have cocktails on the porch with you my dear friend. Love you always.