Julius W. McKay, Sr. was born February 8, 1923, in Columbia, to parents Douglas McKay and Anne Lowndes Walker McKay. He entered The Citadel in 1940; served in the Army from 1942 until 1946; and received his LL.B degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1948.
From 1948 until 1994, he practiced law in Columbia. Upon his retirement on December 31, 1994, he was senior partner at Haynsworth, Marion, McKay & Guerard.
In 1971, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award and in 1996, the Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award both from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He received the Order of the Palmetto from Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. in 1994.
He served as chairman of the SC Junior Bar Association of the American Bar Association, the SC College of Trial Lawyers, the Citizens Committee for Judicial Reform, and the SC Bar Memory Hold the Door Committee. He was president of the Richland County Bar Association and the SC Bar, where he served on the House of Delegates. He was a member of the Railroad Trial Counsel; International Society of Barristers; and the American Judicature Society among many other organizations.
Jay served on numerous boards to include, the American Red Cross: SC Chapter, Columbia Exchange Club, Columbia Crippled Children’s Association, Historic Columbia Foundation, United Way, Columbia Museum of Art and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
He was a member of the Palmetto Club, Pine Tree Hunt Club, Carolina Yacht Club, St. Andrews Society of Charleston, St. Andrews Society of Columbia, Cotillion Club and the Centurion Society. He was scout master, troop 4 and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award from the Boys Scouts of America.
After retirement, he enjoyed spending summers in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, where he served on the Bishop’s Committee at the Church of the Resurrection, was the chair of the town Roads Committee, and convener of the Wednesday Morning Coffee Club.
Julius W. McKay, Sr. died on July 6, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Ladson Mills McKay; his two children, Julius Walker McKay, Jr. (Sally) and Elizabeth McKay Moosbrugger (John); four grandchildren, John Walker Moosbrugger, Stephen Mills Moosbrugger, Julius Walker McKay, III and James Mitchell McKay; as well as many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews whom he adored.