HONORARY ALUMNI AWARDS J. Bruce McKinney To J. Bruce McKinney for his dedication After graduating, McKinney went on to “When I was considering what boards The McKinneys, who live in Hershey, Pa., to the Hershey community, including Dickinson College, earning a bachelor’s to serve on in retirement, the Medical will celebrate their 50th wedding serving on the board of the Penn State degree in political science in 1959. He Center seemed a natural,” he said. “I’ve anniversary on June 11, 2010. They have Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. completed a year of law school at always had strong, positive feelings about two daughters–Kelly, a graduate of Dickinson School of Law before marrying the Medical Center.” McKinney also Bowdoin College, and Katie, a graduate his wife, Sally, and starting his career. serves on the Board of Advisors for The of Tufts University–and five grandchildren. For nearly a decade, J. Bruce McKinney Following a stint in insurance, he Hershey Theatre and is a past board has contributed his considerable business returned to Hershey in 1966, accepting a member or trustee of organizations acumen and leadership to the Penn State job working with Richard A. Zimmerman ranging from the Board of Managers of Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Board ’53 at The Hershey Chocolate Company. Milton Hershey School and Hershey of Directors. Since joining the board in (Zimmerman later became CEO of Trust to the Pennsylvania Travel Council. 2001, McKinney has served on the Hershey Foods.) In 1971, McKinney started An avid Hershey Bears hockey fan, he finance committee and chaired the com- working for what today is known as and his wife, Sally, established the J. mittee on compensation for eight years, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, which Bruce McKinney Scholarship Fund for a post he just recently relinquished. He includes hotels, arenas, and amusement boys and girls who play youth hockey as also served on the Penn State Children’s parks. His first job was as assistant gener- part of the Hershey Jr. Bears organization. Hospital Campaign Committee. For al manager of HersheyPark, at the time The fund helps defray costs for players McKinney, serving on the Medical the park was transforming from a small who may experience a financial burden Center’s board is just the latest example company town amusement park into a in paying their associated expenses. of his decades-long devotion to the modern-day theme park. “I’m the man town and enterprises of Hershey, Pa. who named the SooperDooperLooper Of the many awards he’s received, roller coaster in HersheyPark,” he jokes. McKinney said he’s particularly proud of McKinney first arrived in Hershey in 1948 Two years later in 1973, he was promoted being selected the 1987 Alumnus of the when he was 11 years old. Before that, he to general manager of the park. Year by the Milton Hershey School and lived in Butler, Pa., where his father was a receiving the 2003 Founder’s Day Award high school principal until his untimely McKinney rose steadily through the ranks from Lebanon Valley College. The death at age 45. “My mother was only 37 of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Founder’s Day Award recognized the then,” he recalled, “and there was no becoming president in 1986, then CEO in successful fight by many Hershey leaders, insurance money, nothing.” At 11, 1987, succeeding Edward R. “Ned” Book he among them, and the greater Hershey McKinney entered the Milton Hershey ’54. He served as chairman of the board community to prevent the sale of School, where he received a first-class and CEO from 1988 to 1999. McKinney Hershey Foods to Chicago-based Wrigley education and a sense of independence– led the company to seven consecutive in 2002. lessons that would help him record-breaking years, from 1993-2000, succeed later. before retiring as board chairman in 2000. .