Cross & Crescent

It is a great testament to a fraternity when a person says, “The happiest days of my life were living in the Lambda Chi house on the Boston University campus and being on the rowing team.”

This was the statement of John D. McKinlay (Boston 1953) when I interviewed him for this article.

It gets your attention immediately and renews your faith in our great Fraternity. McKinlay was born in Detroit and journeyed to Boston University for his college education.

He wasn’t alone. His twin brother Arthur F. McKinlay joined him as he had in grade school, high school, and throughout his time spent in the U.S. Marine Corps. They were in boot camp together and both became sergeants.

They also shared another important event, being members of the Fours Without team (a rowing event) in the 1956 Olympics. But this story of the Lambda Chi and Olympic medal winner begins when John McKinlay first entered Boston University.

Rowing Coach, Brother, and Faculty Adviser

He joined the rowing team and met the coach, James E. Nesworthy (Boston 1934), who was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and who was also Lambda Chi’s faculty adviser. McKinlay remembers that, “Jim was a wonderful person who inspired others. He stressed individual development and commitment to a team.”

Nesworthy was all that and more. His lifelong love of being a teacher and coach in rowing began in 1930 as the coach of high schools in Springfield, Massachusetts. After that he coached at the American International College in Springfield and then served as the Boston University freshman coach just prior to World War II.

During the war Nesworthy was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, earning a Purple Heart and a Navy Commendation Medal for Valor. In 1948, he became the head coach for men’s crew at Boston University, a position he would retain until his retirement in 1964. Brother Nesworthy served as president of the Association of Rowing Coaches of American, had his name entered into the National Rowing Foundation Book of Honor in 1995, and in 1998 Boston University named a boat for him.

The Lambda Chi chapter at Boston had many varsity men as members during the middle 1950s. “We had a great time. The house was made up of wonderful men and we established great camaraderie and had great fun. We didn’t have a housemother, but Jim, as the faculty adviser, was an excellent role model. The chapter house was close to the boathouse so it was very convenient. I wasn’t the only Lambda Chi on the rowing team; in fact Ron Cardwell, who made a career in the United States Marine Corps, was a teammate and also on the ’56 Olympic team.”

“Winning the Silver Medal in the Fours Without was a very special moment. We had been competing successfully and just lost to a very fine Canadian team. When our team took their place on the podium it was an adrenalin rush and receiving the Silver Medal was hard to describe, but a moment filled with pride. I know that some Olympic medal winners keep their medals in a safe deposit box, but not me. All of these years, I have kept it hanging on the wall, where it is today in my condominium, so that I can enjoy it each day.”

McKinlay returned to Boston University after the Olympics and in 1958 was the captain of the rowing team. His association with Lambda Chi Alpha also continued. “I vividly remember the Ritual. It was an exciting experience, one that I shall always remember.”

Halls of Fame and Real Estate

In 1981, McKinlay was inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame. In appreciation of his representation of Boston University, he also was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1985.

Brother McKinlay has been engaged in the real estate business for many years. Presently, he is the owner of T & C Appraisals in Birmingham, Michigan, where he conducts residential and commercial property appraisals.