Fred B. McKinley

Fred B. McKinley embarked on a long and distinguished career in the credit industry before retiring with the Louisiana Department of Justice, where he served as a supervisory criminal investigator in the Office of the Attorney General. A native of Beaumont, Texas, McKinley completed undergraduate work (B.A. Government) at Lamar State College of Technology and earned his Master's in History at Lamar University. He also attended Louisiana State University, where he received a law enforcement certification.

He is the author or co-author of five books: KING COTTON: Coach Cotton Robinson and the Buna Boys' Basketball Legacy, 1948-1963 (co-authored with Charles Breithaupt); A PLEA FOR JUSTICE: The Timothy Cole Story; CHINQUA WHERE? The Spirit of Rural America, 1947-1955; DEVIL'S POCKET, a novel, and BLACK GOLD TO BLUEGRASS: From the Oil Fields of Texas to Spindletop Farm of Kentucky (co-authored with Greg Riley).

McKinley has also contributed numerous articles to national and professional publications, served as a keynote speaker at various oil association forums, a speaker at various group meetings, including the Innocence Project of Texas, and delivered academic papers at annual meetings of the East Texas Historical Association.

He lives with his wife Dottie in Burleson, Texas.