Tom McKay's 82nd Birthday Party - 2016

Tom McKay and Lety McKay - 2017

Tom McKay and Lety McKay - 2017 - having fun at a 1920's party.

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: Tom Mckay

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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Tom McKay - 1956 - El Paso, Texas

Reflecting back to 1956. After my honorable discharge from the USMC, I was back in business with Ma Bell and here, getting ready for a date with a sweet gal. Tom McKay

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Source: Tom McKay

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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Tom McKay - 1955

Tom McKay at the age of twenty - one. United States Marine Corps - Yokosuka, Japan. McKay has been a part of the southwest's boxing scene since 1966 when he helped form the Southwest International Amateur Boxing Association (SWIABA). McKay also wrote a book titled "Magic! Magic! Magic!, a detailed masterpiece about the legacy of "Cliff "Magic" Thomas. Thomas McKay's masterpiece captures the very essence of Cliff Thomas' magical career and brings to the forefront the explosive sport of kickboxing. Excellent reading!" says Ladislao Vicencio who is an Inductee of the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame and a Three-time Golden Gloves State Champion. http://www.convictedartist.com/thomas_mckay.html

Area: Out of Area / Out of Area

Source: Tom McKay

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El Paso Boxing & Martial Arts - 2012

June 9, 2012 - Hall Of Fames Awards Banquet

Area: Mission Valley / Alfalfa

Source: Tom McKay

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Tom McKay - 1955

Tom graduated from Mar Vista in 1952 and returned to El Paso, Texas where he worked as a front man for Mountain Bell Telephone Company before joining the United States Marine Corps, which sent him back to San Diego for training. Tom moved from boot camp, to a telephone and electronics course in San Diego, then to combat training in Oceanside, California as a prelude for duty in Korea. Instead, orders came from Gifu, Japan. Tom was assigned to a barracks that was once home to the Kamikaze pilots of World War II. When his unit moved to Yokosuka he began studying Japanese judo. http://www.convictedartist.com/thomas_mckay.html

Area: Out of Area / Out of Area

Source: Tom McKay

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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Tom McKay's 82nd Birthday Party - 2016

One of the gifts that Tom receive for his birthday was a portrait of Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston.

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Tom Mckay

Source: EPMH

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Tom McKay's 82nd Birthday Party - 2016

Leticia McKay and Tom McKay celebrate Tom's 82nd birthday at Mac Adoo's.

Area: Eastside / Eastwood

Tom Mckay

Source: EPMH

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

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Tom McKay's 82nd Birthday Party - 2016

Tom McKay and his wife Leticia McKay celebrating Tom's birthday party at Mac Adoo's. Tom McKay is about the size of a junior welterweight. Maybe a full-fledged welter on a day when he eats well. And not because of the cancer or chemo that sometimes gobble up his strength. Judging by the gaggle of photos that saturate local boxing programs — collections upon collections he often carries around with him from place-to-place — McKay has always been a slim jim. Thin and wiry, with a West Texas drawl and enough raw enthusiasm to make a child jacked up on sugar look subdued — McKay is an uncontainable force of nature. It’s hard to believe he’s 82 years old. But he is. At least, he will be on Sunday. To no one’s surprise, he’ll have a party this weekend. And he invited the world. Because, when you’re Tom McKay — and if you have any connection with El Paso boxing whatsoever, you know who Tom McKay is — there’s only one way to live life: thoroughly. HEART AND SOUL If this sounds at times more like an obit than a birthday tribute, maybe that’s appropriate. Because, frankly, Tom McKay should’ve been gone a long time ago. He has been suffering from an aggressive form of prostate cancer for 20 years. He was told he didn’t have much time left, and that he’d have to start chemo immediately. It’s hard to imagine this man depressed about anything, but odds are he was depressed on diagnosis day. Afterall, he is human. At least, that’s the assumption. But, as many of his fighters possessed the intangibles necessary to overcome adversity, so, too, did McKay. And his ability to shake off the cobwebs, pick himself up off the canvas and move forward with almost zero effect on his sunny disposition or his amazing productivity is a case study in courage. Matthew Aguilar, Special to the Times http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/2016/09/30/el-paso-boxer-study-courage/91323330/

Area: Eastside / Eastwood