DALTON, Ga. — Dalton resident Ron McKinney will be inducted into the Belhaven University Sports Hall of Fame at the awards ceremony and the Homecoming football game on Nov. 2 in Jackson, Mississippi.

McKinney graduated from Belhaven in 1967 with a bachelor of arts in art and business with a minor in Greek and Bible. As a scholarship athlete, he earned letters in basketball and tennis. He was involved in student government serving as president of his sophomore class and on the President’s Student Council. His activities included the concert choir, cartoonist for the Clan Call newspaper, sports editor of the yearbook and president of the Varsity B Club. McKinney was voted “Mr. Belhaven” by the student body his senior year.

In 1997, McKinney received the Belhaven Community Award for service to his community. During the time of his daughter Heidi’s cancer treatment, he was involved with raising funds for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Miracle Network Television telethon, T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital and the Tennessee Valley Authority Combined Federal Campaign.

The 2007 Belhaven University Alumnus of the Year was presented to McKinney for his achievements in the community. He organized and directed the Make-A-Wish All-Star basketball games, comprised of local high school players, to raise more than $100,000 for families with children who had catastrophic diseases.

Former Belhaven basketball head coach Charles R. Rugg said, “I remember Ronnie McKinney as a feisty, fireball point guard who could handle the basketball and drill the jump shot. His dribbling skills were such that we rarely had trouble against the press. When opponents would sag on our inside guys, Ronnie would pull they out again by hitting a shot from the outside. He was aggressive, hustling, competitive player who controlled the tempo of the game and was a great passer. The most important thing was that Ronnie provided stable leadership and was an excellent role model for the other players.”

McKinney has been in ministry for 55 years and pastored for 28 years at Kinsey Drive Baptist Church in Dalton. He received his master of divinity from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1974 and his doctor of ministry from the North American School of Theology. Presently, he is the host of the twice weekly television program “Majesty,” which has been aired 28 years on WDNN North Georgia Television. Also, he is editor of the The Sword & Trowel magazine.

McKinney served 24 years on the board of directors and board of administration at Christian Heritage School, which was initially at Kinsey Drive Baptist Church. The campus of Christian Heritage School is located on 162 acres with a $55 million complex, debt free. In 1992, McKinney initiated the athletic, drama and music departments while teaching art for 21 years. Christian Heritage School has won five championships including football, basketball (twice), soccer and softball.

In addition, McKinney was executive director of the L’Abri Academy of Fine Arts and co-founder and board member of the 60-piece L’Abri Symphony Orchestra. As for the arts, for the past 30 years he has taught more than 12,000 students watercolor, acrylic and oil painting.

He lives with his wife Bonnie, a Christian Heritage School English teacher, in Dalton. He has three married daughters, Heather (Scott) Kinnamon, Heidi (Jeff) Ingle and Hope (Stephen) Moore, and a son, Haddon Barrett. He and Bonnie have eight grandchildren.