Dwight McKinney, Sr.

Dwight Atwood McKinney, Sr. was born in Washington, DC on June 3,1946 to the late Frank Dalvert McKinney, Sr. and Margaret Steiner McKinney Coleman. He was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 31, 2019

Dwight grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland in a small community called Cabin John. As the fifth of seven children he was a free-spirited toddler who earned the title of 'Nature Boy' because he liked to run around his yard - without his diaper. A favorite in his family, as well as in his close-knit community, he played throughout the circle of homes and over the years fine-tuned his athletic skills playing football, baseball, swimming and tennis. Dwight attended River Road and Clara Barton Elementary Schools, Walter Johnson High School, and graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1964.  He excelled in football and baseball at Whitman and was offered a partial scholarship at the University of Maryland. Scouts for the Houston Astros also paid close attention to him but wanted him to gain a little more weight and continue to play in the Washington, DC Industrial League for another year. Dwight ultimately did not pursue either offer. He played sandlot baseball for several local teams including the American Eagles, the Scotland Baseball team, and the DC Metropolitan Police Team.

Growing up in Cabin John Dwight lived a short distance from the now historic Glen Echo Amusement Park but was not allowed to go there to enjoy the rides or the swimming pool because of segregation. As a teenager he was active in picketing the park, demanding fair and equal rights for all people. He followed the lead of his father who, besides being active in other civil rights activities at the time, also participated in the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. March on Washington.

Dwight and his dad were always advocating for fairness and justice for all.

After high school Dwight joined the US Army where he spent almost two years in Germany. There he joined the boxing team and was proud of his boxing record of 17 wins and 1 loss. After being discharged from the Army, he joined the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department where he was a Patrolman and Detective, while also taking classes at American University. In 1975 he joined the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent. Over the next 25 years he would be assigned to the Baltimore Regional Office, the Washington DC Field Office, the Los Angeles Regional Office (Supervisory Special Agent), Washington , DC Headquarters (Inspections) ; Reno and Lake Tahoe, NV Office (Resident Agent-in-Charge (RAC); and the New York Office as Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC). Throughout his career he participated in numerous undercover high-level investigations, arrests and seizures in the U.S. and other countries, including temporary duty assignments in the Caribbean Islands. Throughout his career with DEA Dwight received numerous awards, certificates of outstanding performance and promotions. Dwight was also a Mason, serving in the Widow's Son Lodge #7 in Washington, DC.

As a youngster, Dwight was introduced to golf by his father, and would caddie at Burning Tree Country Club in Bethesda. After his retirement he became much more involved in golfing - several times a week and always on Saturday. He was a member of Fireball Golf Club, US Postal Golf Club, Nairobi Golf Club and the US Capital Chippers Golf Club. He would travel up and down the East coast participating in various tournaments and he won many championship trophies.

Dwight was 'raised' in the old Gibson Grove A.M.E. Zion Church on Seven Locks Road in Cabin John/Bethesda, MD, which is now a historic landmark. He would later join Goshen United Methodist Church after his marriage to Dorita Prather. At Goshen he served on the Administrative Board for several years and was an Usher until his health prevented him from continuing.   He also served as a Member Care Tribe Leader.  In the past he participated in various ministries including arranging golf tournaments for the benefit of the Scholarship Committee, beautification of the church and parsonage activities and providing special gifts as needed to support the mission of the church.

He enjoyed his church and the many friends he made over the years as well as the camaraderie of the fellows and hugs of the Greeters. music the choirs sang each Sunday morning.

Dwight supported his children in all their activities whenever he could. He often assisted in coaching community sports teams and was a team favorite when he would bring a ladder to soccer games to be able to see and video all the action. This was very special when he moved to California and put young Dwight on sports teams where neither of them knew anyone. Parents of the team members all wanted to meet him and would invite themselves over to see the videoed games. This turned out to be a great way to meet everyone in the neighborhood, as well as integrating the team. It helped that his son was a good athlete! He coached baseball for the Oxon Hill Boys and Girls Club for a   few years and loved training the young boys in techniques as well as sportsmanship. He even served as a baseball umpire for the Sports Association (along with his wife) but the parents on the sidelines calling their own 'balls-strikes-and outs' made that a much less attractive activity for him.

He also was involved in a local outreach program that taught Golf to youth. He supported all his grandchildren the same way when they came along, trying to attend as many of their activities as he could. He would surprise them by showing up unexpectedly at events they did not know he was aware of.

Dwight adored his beautiful grandchildren in all their uniqueness and personalities. To the younger grands he was their 'jungle gym', salon patron, dance partner, 'blues' coach, advice giver and partner in mischief, always letting them have their way with him. On occasion he would discipline them; he was always patient, and always instilled in them what was right and wrong. They all loved Granddad. To his older grands he was their role model, mentor, friend, and encouraged to excel in life. He made them feel loved and he was always there for them. “Granddad was our everything."

Dwight was well loved by his family and siblings and was the 'go to' person for any advice - from careers to dating to the many choices in their lives. When he spoke -they listened.  He was the heavy hand when needed and was also the loving hand when needed. Dwight has a host of nieces who all claimed to be his 'favorite '. When asked of him "am I your favorite? " he would respond "yep, you're my favorite. " Of course, this was done when only one was around. He earned the respect of all of them and many other people who knew him because he was a fair and likable man.

After high school and while in the military Dwight was blessed with his daughter, Saturia, from his previous marriage. He married Dorita Prather, almost 43 years ago and was blessed with their son, Dwight II, and a stepson, Victor Young. With Dwight's career assignments in various locales, the family enjoyed the adventures of moving back and forth across the country and meeting new people along the way. Besides his love of golf, he and Dorita enjoyed watching sports or attending sporting events and enjoyed live theater dates. Awesome vacations occasionally slipped into their schedules and the occasional cruises were lifesavers - full of relaxation and fun. They particularly enjoyed family gatherings -- cookouts, crab feasts, bid whist (he always slapped his winning card on his forehead), Pokeno, dirty hearts, B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland - any blues or the oldies.

Dwight also liked to dance and could be very serious about his 'fancy' footwork and turns. He loved a good joke and a good laugh. Together they truly enjoyed good times and made special memories with some very special friends.

Dwight leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, P. Dorita McKinney, daughter Saturia Davenport (Warren), son Dwight McKinney, II (Tiffany), stepson Victor Young (Sherie); 7 grandchildren : Alaya, Chela and Warren Davenport, II and Marcus , Zoe, Nia and Dwight McKinney, Ill. He also leaves his sisters Bettyann Bullard, P. Joyce Barr, Jacqualine Donaldson and Gloria Slayton: sisters -in-law Frankie McKinney, Sylvia Smith and Denise Prather; and brother-in law Michael Prather as well as a host of favorite nieces, favorite nephews, favorite cousins and best friends. His brothers Frank, Jr. and Ronald McKinney, Sr. predeceased him.

 Our Hero has been called home, but his legacy will live on forever......

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