Billy McKinney

Who was Billy McKinney?

J.E. McKinney was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. Although McKinney served as a Democrat in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1983 until 2002, he also ran as an independent for Congress after that time. In 2008 he joined the Green Party and cast delegate votes for their Presidential nominee. McKinney was the father of former United States Representative from Georgia and Green party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney.

McKinney was born in Abbeville in Wilcox County, Georgia. He attended the Atlanta Public Schools and Clark College, and was a decorated veteran of the United States Army. He was credited with integrating the Atlanta Police Department and spearheading the efforts of the Afro-American Police League. A portion of Interstate 285 is known as the "James E. "Billy" McKinney Highway" between I-20 in northwest Atlanta and I-75 near Cumberland Mall.

McKinney was known as a politician who did not shy away from controversy. In 1981, he acted as co-chairman of the campaign of Sidney Marcus for Mayor of Atlanta. Marcus was a prominent Jewish leader; his opponent was the well known African-American politician Andrew Young.