Hall of Fame
Wendell McKemey, 2010 - One of the most decorated track athletes in Western Illinois history, Wendell McKemey earned All-Mid-Continent Conference honors three years at the Outdoor championship meet and twice during the Indoor championships. At the 1983 Outdoor meet McKemey was selected at the 'Outdoor Athlete of the Year'. In the 1984 Indoor championship he won the 440 yard dash and helped the 4x400 relay team win the title. At the following year's Indoor meet, he captured the 600 yard title and a repeat championship in the 4x400 relay.
During his standout performance at 1983 Outdoor meet he won the 100 and 200 meters en route to receiving the Outdoor Athlete of the Year award. In '84 he won the 400 yard Outdoor title and helped the 4x100 relay team to a first-place finish. He capped his career winning the 400 meters for the second consecutive year and was part of the championship 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
His 6.31 second time in the 55-meter dash (1982) still ranks fourth all-time in Leatherneck history. McKemey also ranks among the Indoor best times in the: 400 meters (5th/48.97 seconds), 4x400 relay (7th/3:18.56 in 1985; tied 9th/3:19.13 in 1984 and 1985).
Among the Outdoor best performances, McKemey's 46.72 second time in the 400 meters still stands as the record 25 years later. He also ranks among the Outdoor leaders in the: 100 meters (6th/10.37 seconds in 1983), 200 meters (2nd/21.00 in 1982), 4x100 relay (5th/40.54 in 1985) and 4x400 relay (5th/3:12.07 in 1985; 8th/3:12.39 in 1982).
McKemey, nicknamed 'Flash', graduated from Western in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. Upon graduation he has worked in managerial roles with FedEx, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Lafarge North America, and his current position with Sears as an In-Home Technical Business Manager. McKemey is involved with St. Andrew AME church in Memphis and the Labor Day Shoe Giveaway program. He enjoys coaching his son in baseball and AAU basketball, and also works as a basketball referee with the Illinois High School Association.
He and his wife Kelly have two children, Joy and Wendell IV. They currently reside in Park Forest, Illinois.
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