Art McKinlay: Accountant also was Olympic rower

Honesty and humility were as much a part of the makeup of Olympic medalist and accountant Art McKinlay as his fraternal attachment to his identical twin John was, family members said.

Mr. McKinlay, who was a silver medalist along with his brother in four-man rowing at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, died Aug. 10 of a heart attack at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. The Royal Oak resident was 77.

"We were practically inseparable for most of our lives, talking daily on the phone, and met frequently for lunch," his brother, John, said. "We shared a lot of memorable experiences together."

Born in Detroit, Mr. McKinlay was one of three children, and arrived 15 minutes behind his brother.

The duo began rowing together along the Detroit River in high school, and their four-man team represented the Detroit Boat Club in the 1956 Olympics, in which the Canadian team won gold.

Mr. McKinlay graduated from Cooley High School in 1950 and served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, earning the rank of sergeant. He attended Boston University for two years and later graduated from the Detroit Institute of Technology with a degree in accounting.

Mr. McKinlay served as an accountant for National Reproductions Corp. in Detroit and retired in 1997.

"He was a truly humble man who was extremely proud of his life accomplishments, yet not in a showy way," said his son Arthur McKinlay Jr. "In fact, the only times the silver medal ever came out of his sock drawer was for his kids or grandchildren to display for school assignments."

Besides his son and brother, survivors include his wife, Bobbie; sons Robert and Jason; daughter Karen Benoit; a sister, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service is set for 1 p.m. today at the American Legion Hall, 2079 Twelve Mile, Berkley. The body was cremated.