Episode Details

EP 35 KEVIN MCKINNEY

Wendy Corr:

Well, hey there, folks, welcome to The Roundup. I'm your host, Wendy Corr, and at the Roundup, we want to talk to really interesting people who have made their mark on the Cowboys state. And today's guest for this episode is somebody whose voice you know.

If you know University of Wyoming athletics, you know Kevin McKinney, and that is my guest today. And I am so tickled to make his acquaintance, because Kevin and I have never had an opportunity to meet before this, and we've just had a great time before we've gotten started today just kind of getting to know each other, and me getting to know Kevin's remarkable Wyoming experience.

Because Kevin, hello, we'll start with that proper greeting. Hello, Kevin!

Kevin McKinney:

Hello, Wendy, you're making me up a lot bigger than I really am, but I appreciate it, believe me. Great intro.

Wendy Corr:

Well, Kevin, you are, you are Wyoming. I mean, you started out in Cheyenne. You are born and bred into this state. And you're really, truly born and bred into radio.

Just by way of introduction, folks, if you don't know Kevin, Kevin has been the voice of UW football, UW basketball. He's announced radio broadcasts for both of those sports since the 70s, for basketball, is that correct?

Kevin McKinney:

Correct. It went back all the way to early 70s, and then 1998.

Wendy Corr:

You have been the voice and you've been the co host, of course, you've worked with Dave Walsh, and he was your radio partner for years and years. But this is something I think, that people just really, if there's a question that you have about UW athletics, Kevin's the guy that can answer those questions.

Because, Kevin, you just started out in radio from, before you could even walk, really. Tell us about your Wyoming origin story, because it's a great one.

Kevin McKinney:

Well, I was born in Cheyenne, as you mentioned, Wendy, and my dad was in radio. He was actually in sales to begin with, and then he, on the side, helped engineer the games for football and basketball for Wyoming. And he worked with Larry Birleffi for many, many years, as I did as well.

And Larry, of course, was one of the original voices of Wyoming athletics, Voice of the Cowboys. And he did it for over 42 years. I think it was 43 years in fact. And you know, I had the pleasure, the opportunity to work with him, to call him my friend - and my dad and I really appreciated what he did for both of us.

But, you know, dad started engineering for Larry in high school games, and then it moved into college, and I'd get to go to the games and sit with them, spot for Larry a lot as I was growing up. And so I became very familiar with not only the business, but the athletic department itself, which later on led me into the profession.

Wendy Corr:

Well, you had this though, from the time that you decided to go to the University of Wyoming for college, which, you graduated in 1971 with a journalism degree. You kind of had your eye on that.

Let's talk about the stories. Let's talk about these really wonderful people who make up the teams, who make up the athletics program. Is that correct?

Kevin McKinney:

Yeah, and you know it was, it's been a terrific career. Obviously, Wendy, I've just enjoyed it. As my original boss, Bill Young, would say, it beats work, and it always did, because we got to know so many personalities in terms of student athletes as well as coaches, media and fans themselves.

But I really got into the world of University of Wyomin