About Lonzell "Bobby" McKiver, Jr.

Humility, servant-leadership, dedication, courage and faith-filled are all words that describe Lonzell "Bobby" McKiver, Jr. He was a light who filled up any room with his presence and filled all of our hearts with his kind, loving spirit. To know him was to love him and he touched countless lives – young and old. He had many titles, from mentor, coach and advisor to brother, father, grandfather and uncle. His life was a testimony about faith, resiliency and love. We can all learn something from his servant-leadership, his warm spirit and- most importantly- his love for the Lord.  

“Bobby,” as he was affectionately called, grew up in High Point, North Carolina and was a graduate of William Penn High School’s legendary class of 1968 – the school’s last graduating class before closing its doors due to integration. While at William Penn High School he played football, basketball and ran track and was a proud member of the school’s 1968 state championship basketball team. 

In 1978, the school was listed in the Register of Historic Places.

After high school, he took his athletic talents to Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee where he received a football scholarship. He pledged the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s Kappa Sigma Chapter in the fall of 1970 and remained close to his line brothers from Lane College throughout his life. 

After college, Bobby tried out for several National Football League teams and played on several practice squads. He eventually moved to Wisconsin to play as an inside linebacker for the Sheboygan County Redwings, a Semi-Pro football team in the Central States League. He continued his Semi-Pro career with the Lackawanna County Eagles in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

His love for sports and his passion for coaching allowed him to have an undeniable impact in the lives of many youth athletes in Milwaukee’s inner city and beyond. He coached football at Northcott Neighborhood House, and he also coached soccer, basketball and softball teams. It was always heartwarming to see one of his former youth athletes -- who are now adults -- run up to him in the grocery store and thank him for all he did for them when they were kids.

In honor of Bobby’s life, his love for sports and his passion for philanthropy and helping young people, his family has launched the Lonzell McKiver, Jr. Scholarship Fund to help students from Milwaukee, WI, Charlotte, North Carolina and High Point, NC overcome financial barriers to attend college and help cover unforeseen costs or emergencies while enrolled.