Dates

• Existence: 1919 - 2007

Biographical History

William E. McKell (1919-2007) was an industrial education professor and educational administrator in Utah.

William Ellsworth McKell was born on December 21, 1919 in Spanish Fork to Robert Dewey and Mary Ellsworth McKell. He attended Payson High School and Brigham Young University. In 1941 he joined the United States Air Corps, and served in World War II as the pilot of a Flying Fortress. In 1942 he married Freda Eliza Leifson, and they eventually had five children. While flying in Europe in 1943 his plane was shot down, and he remained in a German prisoner-of-war camp in 1945. After the war he continued his studies, receiving a bachelor's degree from Utah State University, a master's degree from Texas A & M University, and a doctorate of education from Utah State University.

McKell spent his career in education, both as a teacher and administrator. He began teaching in high schools in Santaquin and Payson, Utah, and at Spanish Fork Junior High School. He also served on the faculty at Brigham Young High School in Provo, Utah. He then worked as an administrator at the Utah State Office of Education and Granite School District. He finished his career at Brigham Young University, where he taught in the Industrial and Vocational Education Department.

After retiring, McKell and his wife served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as director of the Idaho Falls Temple Visitor's Center. He had also served in the Church as a bishopric member and a branch president.

McKell died on October 5, 2007 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:

OCLC, Sept. 22, 2014 (hdg: McKell, William E.; McKell, William E., 1919- ; McKell, William Ellsworth, 1919- ; usage: William E. McKell)

Daily herald, via WWW, viewed Apr. 21, 2011 (William Ellsworth McKell; born in Spanish Fork, Utah on December 21st, 1919 to Robert Dewey and Mary Ellsworth McKell; graduated from Payson High School, attended Brigham Young University, Bachelor's Degree from Utah State University, Master's Degree from Texas A&M, and Doctorate of Education from Utah State University; taught High School in Santaquin, and Payson, and Jr. High in Spanish Fork, BY High School; worked at the Utah State Office of Education; Director of the Industrial and Business Education Departments for Granite School District; retired as a Professor at BYU in the Industrial and Vocational Education Departments, and previously served as their Department Chairman; married Freda Leifson McKell in the Salt Lake City Temple in 1942, five children; served as Liaison officer for the Air Force Academy for the State of Utah; Faculty Advisor of the Flying Club at BYU; served in the Boy Scouts of America; past Commander of Post 13 of the American Legion; served in the Golden Kiwanis, National Guard, Army Air Corp.; B-17 pilot in WWII; POW in Germany for 2 years in the Stalag Luft 3 and Stalag 7-A POW camps; retired as a Lt. Col. in the USAF Reserves; counselor in the Bishopric, BYU Branch President, served a mission with his wife as Director of the Idaho Falls Temple Visitor's Center; passed away Friday October 5th, 2007 in Provo, Utah)

Ancestry.com, via WWW, Sept. 22, 2014 (William E. McKell; William Ellsworth McKell; b. Dec. 21, 1919 in Spanish Fork, Utah; joined Air Corps, Aug. 18, 1941; pilot, Flying Fortress; m. May 15, 1942 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Freda Eliza Leifson; missing in Europe, June 13, 1943; reported prisoner of Germans, July 27, 1943; liberated in 1945)

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