WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Former U.S. Representative David McKinley, a civil engineer, businessman, and longtime public servant from West Virginia, has died. He was 79.
McKinley, a Republican, represented West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023, serving six consecutive terms.
During his time in Congress, he was a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and was known for taking a bipartisan approach to legislation.
Born March 28, 1947, in Wheeling, McKinley built a career as a civil engineer after graduating from Purdue University. He later founded an engineering and architectural firm, establishing himself in the business community before entering politics.
McKinley’s public service began at the state level.
He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1980 to 1994 and was chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party from 1990 to 1994. He also ran for governor in 1996.
In Congress, McKinley was notable for being the only licensed engineer serving at the time, often emphasizing infrastructure, energy, and economic issues important to West Virginia.
His tenure ended after he lost a Republican primary in 2022 following redistricting that merged his district with another incumbent’s.
In a statement, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito reflected on McKinley’s life and legacy:
“My heart is heavy after hearing about the passing of David McKinley. He was a fighter. Not only did David fight for his principles and the causes he believed in, but he also fought hardest for his cherished West Virginia. As a proud eighth generation West Virginian, he espoused the values that are so embedded in our state. His dedication and commitment to our coal miners was second to none, and as the only licensed engineer in Congress during his time in the House of Representatives, he brought thorough analysis to the legislative process. He was also a dedicated WVU football fan-never missing a chance to cheer them on. My heart goes out to his devoted wife Mary and his family in sympathy for their loss and in gratitude for his decades of public service and friendship.”
