Bernard C. McKay

Bernard C. "Mac" McKay 85, died Thursday, March 16. Born in Indianapolis in 1920, Mr. McKay graduated from Cathedral High School in 1938, earning AllState basketball honors as well as the 1938 Al Feeney Sportsmanship Award. He then attended the University of Notre Dame, where he played varsity football and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Commercial Art. Mr. McKay served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, and fought in six major engagements in the South Pacific, including Tarawa and Iwo Jima. At the conclusion of World War II, Mr. McKay embarked upon his career with several oil companies in Indianapolis, including Gaseteria, Bonded, Humble, Exxon and Cheker. He was named 1956 Indianapolis "Advertising Man of the Year", and the highlights of his career included designing the original "Hillbilly" mascot for a then new soft drink called Mountain Dew, patenting the familiar lighted plastic globe gasoline pump topper, creating the Humble Oil mascot "Little Oily", and contributing to the development of the EncoExxon Tiger. In his later years, Mr. McKay was active in numerous groups, including the Area 10 Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Spencer Senior Center. He was named the 1998 recipient of the Martin Miller Senior Volunteer of the Year Award. He was a member of St. Jude's Catholic Church in Spencer. Mr. McKay was preceded in death by his spouse, Lue Anne McKay, and is survived by three daughters, Nancy Lorenz of Spencer, Carol Taylor of Indianapolis, and Barbara White of New York City; one son, John McKay of Spencer; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Viewing will be Sunday, March 19, from 2 to 7 p.m. at West, Parrish and Pedigo Funeral Home in Spencer. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 20 at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Spencer, with internment following at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Indianapolis. Military graveside service will be conducted by the U.S. Marines at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Notre Dame General Fund, directly or in care of the funeral home.