Des McKee
| Full name | William Desmond McKee | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 August 1923 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 28 January 1982 (aged 58) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||
| School | Mourne Grange School St Columba's College | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Builder | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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William Desmond McKee CBE (27 August 1923 — 28 January 1982) was an Irish international rugby union player.[1]
A native of Belfast, McKee was educated at Mourne Grange School in Kilkeel and St Columba's College outside Dublin.[2]
McKee, a speedy three-quarter, was Irish 440 yards champion in 1946 and played his rugby for Belfast-based club North of Ireland. He made his Ireland debut on the wing against Australia at Lansdowne Road in 1947, but won most of his 12 international caps as a centre, including all four matches of the grand slam-winning 1948 Five Nations campaign. His second-half try against England at Twickenham proved decisive in a 11–10 win.[3]
Post rugby, McKee became chairman of F. B. McKee and Co., Belfast, succeeding his father. He was president of the Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Northern Ireland from 1976 to 1978.[2]
McKee was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1979 New Year Honours.[2]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "William Desmond McKee (1923 - 1982)". The Dictionary of Ulster Biography.
- ^ a b c "McKee, William Desmond ('Des')". Dictionary of Irish Biography.
- ^ "Rugby: Irish can end their slam famine in the grand manner". Belfast Telegraph. 28 March 2003.