Mayor Billy McKinney
Billy McKinney is the 18th Mayor of the City of Zion. The McKinney family planted roots in Zion in 1962. Mayor McKinney attended Elmwood School and Central Middle School and graduated with honors from Zion-Benton Township High School in 1973.
At Zion-Benton, McKinney starred in basketball and baseball and was selected as an All-State performer in both. He also played football, ran cross-country, and participated in the gymnastics club. In Spring 1973, he led an undersized but talented Zee-Bee team to the school’s first-ever Regional Basketball Championship win over archrival North Chicago.
Upon graduating from ZBTHS, McKinney accepted a full athletic scholarship to Northwestern University to play basketball and baseball. At Northwestern, he led the team in scoring, steals, and assists; was named team MVP for three consecutive seasons; earned All-Big Ten honors for three consecutive seasons; and was recognized as an All-American by multiple outlets. Northwestern created the annual Billy McKinney Award to honor a student-athlete who exemplifies leadership, 110% effort, and a positive mental attitude. McKinney graduated as Northwestern’s all-time leading scorer, a record that stood for 36 years.
NBA Playing & Executive Career
After college, McKinney spent 39 years in the NBA as a player and front-office executive. His seven-year playing career included stops with the Kansas City Kings, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, San Diego Clippers, and Chicago Bulls. After retiring as a player, he became the first African American executive in Chicago Bulls history and later served in leadership roles with several organizations, including General Manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm; Assistant Vice President of Basketball Operations with the Chicago Bulls; Executive Vice President of Basketball for the Seattle SuperSonics (and later the Storm); and Vice President of Scouting for the Milwaukee Bucks.
He still holds the NBA rookie record for most consecutive field goals made in a game without a miss (14). He is also among a select group of rookies who scored 25+ points, recorded 5+ assists, and shot over 90% from the field in a debut performance.
Community & Leadership
Throughout his career, McKinney has been active in community affairs and has served on leadership boards of many local and national organizations, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Urban League, United Negro College Fund, Easterseals, the ZB High School Board, Scouts of America, and Marillac House. In 1983, he was honored with a key to the City of Zion, and May 27 was declared Billy McKinney Day.
As Commissioner of Building, Property and Zoning, he worked with the Building Department and fellow Commissioners to implement the current rental house certification program—improving life-safety oversight—and helped revive the City of Zion Clean-Up Days, partnering with residents and volunteers to restore neighborhood pride and natural beauty.
Mayor of Zion
Since his election in 2019, Mayor McKinney has served on the Lake County Land Bank, Coalition for Healthy Communities (Vice President), Lake County Community Housing Development Commission (Commissioner and Executive Board Member), and the Lake County Council of Mayors. He has been involved in securing grants to address blighted properties and, in 2021, was appointed Chair of the Mayors Commission on Water Equity, a bi-national organization of 135+ coastal cities in the U.S. and Canada focused on clean and affordable water, urban flooding, and replacing lead service lines.
He worked with county officials and private partners to support the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for Lake County residents. Working with City Administrator Dave Knabel and State Representatives Joyce Mason and Sam Yingling, he helped secure $15 million in annual payments related to spent nuclear fuel stored at the Zion lakefront.
Personal
Mayor McKinney is a longtime resident of Zion. In his spare time, he enjoys movies, music, biking or walking in the city with his chocolate lab Murphy, golfing at local public courses, mentoring youth, and cheering on Zion-Benton athletics.
Selected Rookie Debut Group (20+ points, 70%+ FG)
- Zion Williamson — New Orleans Pelicans
- Steve Smith — Miami Heat
- Ron Anderson — Cleveland Cavaliers
- John “Hot Rod” Williams — Cleveland Cavaliers
- Gordan Giriček — Memphis Grizzlies
- Billy McKinney — Kansas City Kings