Fort King Presbyterian Church

During his state political career, he focused on many of the challenges facing Florida in the 60s and 70s from education to racial justice to the environment. He was known for his honesty and sincerity but was not afraid to step into controversial issues. MacKay said in his Memoir, How Florida Happened, “In my view, standing for something and joining the dialogue is the best way to participate and a lot more satisfying than standing for nothing or simply dodging tough decisions in order to gain or hold office.”

Many consider MacKay as the most influential lieutenant governor in Florida history. MacKay shared, “We were largely successful in reforming and modernizing Florida’s outmoded government.” Although he was disappointed Governor Lawton Chiles and he were unable to enact needed conservation measures with the unprecedented statewide growth, MacKay led a commission to improve public schools, helped transform the Department of Commerce to Enterprise Florida, and oversaw disaster recovery after Hurricane Andrew.

Chiles and MacKay operated like partners. But on December 10, 1998, MacKay’s closest friend Governor Chiles died suddenly thrusting the Lt. Governor into the governor’s seat for three weeks. MacKay opined, “I accomplished very little except to oversee an extended period of mourning.” In contrast, MacKay followers were pleased that symbolically this legendary Democratic leader was bestowed the title of Governor, if only for a short time.

At the national level, possibly his biggest environmental triumph during his first term in Congress was the deauthorization of the Cross Florida Barge Canal west of Palatka. That action laid the groundwork for what is now the 70,000 acre protected greenbelt, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. Into his 90s, MacKay actively supported a critical action to further strengthen this region of the Florida Wildlife Corridor to restore the Ocklawaha River and Silver Springs by breaching the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam. He and Anne, his wife, hosted a front porch summit in 2019 which reinvigorated efforts to free the Ocklawaha River.

His final national position was serving as special envoy to the Latin Americas for President Bill Clinton. He focused on improvements to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

In his hometown, MacKay is well known for his work for racial justice, an interest that started during his University of Florida law school days. In the 1960s MacKay and his law partner helped get two school board members elected, who along with Superintendent Mac Dunwoody, led Marion County to become one of north Florida’s first integrated school districts. The effort went smoothly without any community violence.

MacKay’s work did not stop with the school system. He was bothered that the black side of the City of Ocala was not treated equally to white taxpayers. He spearheaded a successful annexation project with former City Councilman Lorenzo Edwards to bring public services and infrastructure to west Ocala, a large minority community.

At First Presbyterian Church in Ocala, he and a small study group advocated for and helped launch a mission church, Fort King Presbyterian Church. The church became the first integrated protestant church in Marion County and is actively involved in racial justice issues today.

MacKay leaves behind his partner of 65 years, Anne MacKay, and four grown sons, Ken, John, Ben, Andy, and 10 grandchildren. According to his son Ken MacKay, on December 31, the beloved Florida statesman had lunch with Anne and his extended family and then passed away during his regular afternoon nap. Services are being planned for January 15.