The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 19, 2010
William McKinnon Jr.
William Boston McKinnon, Jr. of Darien, Georgia passed away on Tuesday June 15, 2010.
Born on September 30, 1935, in Milledgeville, Georgia, he was the son of William Boston McKinnon and Ethelyn Nightingale McKinnon of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. McKinnon was raised in Savannah, Georgia, graduated from the Hun Preparatory School in Princeton, New Jersey and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1961. In 1961 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked as a stock broker for a number of years. After a brief apprenticeship at the famed Galatoire's Restaurant in New Orleans, in 1972 he opened McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant in Atlanta, where it remains in successful operation as a hallmark of fine dining. Mr. McKinnon was fortunate to have developed a rewarding career from his love of cooking which he enthusiastically shared with his family and many friends. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a former member of the National Restaurant Association, the American Institute of Wine and Food, the International Association of Cooking Professionals, the Pickwick Club of New Orleans, the Oglethorpe Club of Savannah, and the Savannah Yacht and County Club.
Mr. McKinnon is survived by his wife of 6 years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon, a son and daughter-in-law, William Boston McKinnon, III and Theresa of Bethesda, MD; grandchildren William, Daniel, Lillian, Thomas, and James; daughter Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie McKinnon Simpson and John Ely Simpson of Savannah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by sister Lynn McKinnon Glendinning.
A graveside service will be held at the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick, GA Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at The McKinnon House located at 1001 Egmont Street, Brunswick, Georgia. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, GA.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 22, 2010
Billy McKinnon, 74: Founder of McKinnon's Louisiane restaurant
Billy McKinnon tried to be a stockbroker but he couldn't sink his teeth into the profession.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In early 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In the late 1960s, he left a job in New York City and returned to his roots, settling in Atlanta. His first wife hailed from New Orleans and had family contacts with the owners of Galatoire's, a respected old-school restaurant known for its culinary excellence.
For three months, Mr. McKinnon worked for free at the Bourbon Street establishment. He learned the food business and mastered Creole and Cajun cuisine.
"He did whatever he was told to do," said his son, William Boston McKinnon III of Bethesda, Md.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In 2002, the founder sold the business to Aziz Mehram, who'd worked at the establishment for years.
"His knowledge of food and my expertise in service made this happen," Mr. Mehram said. "It's a trend we continue to this day."
In recent years, William Boston McKinnon Jr.had moved to coastal Darien in South Georgia. Last Tuesday, he was in North Georgia when he suffered a fatal heart attack while picking fruits and vegetables at a friend's house. He was 74. A graveside service will be 11 a.m. today in the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick. Whitfield Funeral Home in Demorest is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McKinnon was born in Milledgeville, but raised in Savannah. He majored in business administration at the University of Georgia and after college put his bachelor's degree to use at a New York City firm.
"He was a good financial person," his son said, "but he didn't have the passion. "In the 70s, there were not that many fine-dining choices in Atlanta. He realized something was missing."
Nowadays, McKinnon's is an Atlanta tradition often lauded by food critics and out-of-town visitors in this restaurant chic city. Mr. Mehram credits the success of the business to the man he respected like a father.
"His taking care of the menu made McKinnon's what it is now," he said. "No doubt about it."
The menu includes items like chicken livers with andouille sausage and crawfish etouffee. Mr. McKinnon jokingly called his eggplant "the baby laxative" in a 1990 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Why? Apparently a pregnant woman ordered the dish and went into labor after she'd devoured the dish. Other pregnant women did likewise.
"If the baby doesn't come in 48 hours, the dinner is on the house," he said at the time.
At home, Mr. McKinnon spent hours poring over recipes in one of his 400-plus cookbooks to prepare lunches or dinners. A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff has dined many a time at the motorcycle lovers' log cabin in the Rabun County town of Tiger.
"His hospitality was fantastic," Mr. Frazier said. "We had wonderful meals on his screened-in porch overlooking the mountains."
Mr. McKinnon sold the restaurant when he was 65.
"It was a lot of work, going from 10 a.m. to midnight, six days a week," his son said. "I think he got tired."
Additional survivors include his wife of six years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon; a daughter, Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta; a sister, Marjorie Simpson of Savannah; and five grandchildren.
June 19, 2010
William McKinnon Jr.
William Boston McKinnon, Jr. of Darien, Georgia passed away on Tuesday June 15, 2010.
Born on September 30, 1935, in Milledgeville, Georgia, he was the son of William Boston McKinnon and Ethelyn Nightingale McKinnon of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. McKinnon was raised in Savannah, Georgia, graduated from the Hun Preparatory School in Princeton, New Jersey and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1961. In 1961 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked as a stock broker for a number of years. After a brief apprenticeship at the famed Galatoire's Restaurant in New Orleans, in 1972 he opened McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant in Atlanta, where it remains in successful operation as a hallmark of fine dining. Mr. McKinnon was fortunate to have developed a rewarding career from his love of cooking which he enthusiastically shared with his family and many friends. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a former member of the National Restaurant Association, the American Institute of Wine and Food, the International Association of Cooking Professionals, the Pickwick Club of New Orleans, the Oglethorpe Club of Savannah, and the Savannah Yacht and County Club.
Mr. McKinnon is survived by his wife of 6 years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon, a son and daughter-in-law, William Boston McKinnon, III and Theresa of Bethesda, MD; grandchildren William, Daniel, Lillian, Thomas, and James; daughter Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie McKinnon Simpson and John Ely Simpson of Savannah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by sister Lynn McKinnon Glendinning.
A graveside service will be held at the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick, GA Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at The McKinnon House located at 1001 Egmont Street, Brunswick, Georgia. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, GA.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 22, 2010
Billy McKinnon, 74: Founder of McKinnon's Louisiane restaurant
Billy McKinnon tried to be a stockbroker but he couldn't sink his teeth into the profession.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In early 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In the late 1960s, he left a job in New York City and returned to his roots, settling in Atlanta. His first wife hailed from New Orleans and had family contacts with the owners of Galatoire's, a respected old-school restaurant known for its culinary excellence.
For three months, Mr. McKinnon worked for free at the Bourbon Street establishment. He learned the food business and mastered Creole and Cajun cuisine.
"He did whatever he was told to do," said his son, William Boston McKinnon III of Bethesda, Md.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In 2002, the founder sold the business to Aziz Mehram, who'd worked at the establishment for years.
"His knowledge of food and my expertise in service made this happen," Mr. Mehram said. "It's a trend we continue to this day."
In recent years, William Boston McKinnon Jr.had moved to coastal Darien in South Georgia. Last Tuesday, he was in North Georgia when he suffered a fatal heart attack while picking fruits and vegetables at a friend's house. He was 74. A graveside service will be 11 a.m. today in the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick. Whitfield Funeral Home in Demorest is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McKinnon was born in Milledgeville, but raised in Savannah. He majored in business administration at the University of Georgia and after college put his bachelor's degree to use at a New York City firm.
"He was a good financial person," his son said, "but he didn't have the passion. "In the 70s, there were not that many fine-dining choices in Atlanta. He realized something was missing."
Nowadays, McKinnon's is an Atlanta tradition often lauded by food critics and out-of-town visitors in this restaurant chic city. Mr. Mehram credits the success of the business to the man he respected like a father.
"His taking care of the menu made McKinnon's what it is now," he said. "No doubt about it."
The menu includes items like chicken livers with andouille sausage and crawfish etouffee. Mr. McKinnon jokingly called his eggplant "the baby laxative" in a 1990 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Why? Apparently a pregnant woman ordered the dish and went into labor after she'd devoured the dish. Other pregnant women did likewise.
"If the baby doesn't come in 48 hours, the dinner is on the house," he said at the time.
At home, Mr. McKinnon spent hours poring over recipes in one of his 400-plus cookbooks to prepare lunches or dinners. A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff has dined many a time at the motorcycle lovers' log cabin in the Rabun County town of Tiger.
"His hospitality was fantastic," Mr. Frazier said. "We had wonderful meals on his screened-in porch overlooking the mountains."
Mr. McKinnon sold the restaurant when he was 65.
"It was a lot of work, going from 10 a.m. to midnight, six days a week," his son said. "I think he got tired."
Additional survivors include his wife of six years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon; a daughter, Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta; a sister, Marjorie Simpson of Savannah; and five grandchildren.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 19, 2010
William McKinnon Jr.
William Boston McKinnon, Jr. of Darien, Georgia passed away on Tuesday June 15, 2010.
Born on September 30, 1935, in Milledgeville, Georgia, he was the son of William Boston McKinnon and Ethelyn Nightingale McKinnon of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. McKinnon was raised in Savannah, Georgia, graduated from the Hun Preparatory School in Princeton, New Jersey and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1961. In 1961 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked as a stock broker for a number of years. After a brief apprenticeship at the famed Galatoire's Restaurant in New Orleans, in 1972 he opened McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant in Atlanta, where it remains in successful operation as a hallmark of fine dining. Mr. McKinnon was fortunate to have developed a rewarding career from his love of cooking which he enthusiastically shared with his family and many friends. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a former member of the National Restaurant Association, the American Institute of Wine and Food, the International Association of Cooking Professionals, the Pickwick Club of New Orleans, the Oglethorpe Club of Savannah, and the Savannah Yacht and County Club.
Mr. McKinnon is survived by his wife of 6 years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon, a son and daughter-in-law, William Boston McKinnon, III and Theresa of Bethesda, MD; grandchildren William, Daniel, Lillian, Thomas, and James; daughter Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie McKinnon Simpson and John Ely Simpson of Savannah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by sister Lynn McKinnon Glendinning.
A graveside service will be held at the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick, GA Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at The McKinnon House located at 1001 Egmont Street, Brunswick, Georgia. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, GA.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 22, 2010
Billy McKinnon, 74: Founder of McKinnon's Louisiane restaurant
Billy McKinnon tried to be a stockbroker but he couldn't sink his teeth into the profession.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In early 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In the late 1960s, he left a job in New York City and returned to his roots, settling in Atlanta. His first wife hailed from New Orleans and had family contacts with the owners of Galatoire's, a respected old-school restaurant known for its culinary excellence.
For three months, Mr. McKinnon worked for free at the Bourbon Street establishment. He learned the food business and mastered Creole and Cajun cuisine.
"He did whatever he was told to do," said his son, William Boston McKinnon III of Bethesda, Md.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In 2002, the founder sold the business to Aziz Mehram, who'd worked at the establishment for years.
"His knowledge of food and my expertise in service made this happen," Mr. Mehram said. "It's a trend we continue to this day."
In recent years, William Boston McKinnon Jr.had moved to coastal Darien in South Georgia. Last Tuesday, he was in North Georgia when he suffered a fatal heart attack while picking fruits and vegetables at a friend's house. He was 74. A graveside service will be 11 a.m. today in the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick. Whitfield Funeral Home in Demorest is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McKinnon was born in Milledgeville, but raised in Savannah. He majored in business administration at the University of Georgia and after college put his bachelor's degree to use at a New York City firm.
"He was a good financial person," his son said, "but he didn't have the passion. "In the 70s, there were not that many fine-dining choices in Atlanta. He realized something was missing."
Nowadays, McKinnon's is an Atlanta tradition often lauded by food critics and out-of-town visitors in this restaurant chic city. Mr. Mehram credits the success of the business to the man he respected like a father.
"His taking care of the menu made McKinnon's what it is now," he said. "No doubt about it."
The menu includes items like chicken livers with andouille sausage and crawfish etouffee. Mr. McKinnon jokingly called his eggplant "the baby laxative" in a 1990 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Why? Apparently a pregnant woman ordered the dish and went into labor after she'd devoured the dish. Other pregnant women did likewise.
"If the baby doesn't come in 48 hours, the dinner is on the house," he said at the time.
At home, Mr. McKinnon spent hours poring over recipes in one of his 400-plus cookbooks to prepare lunches or dinners. A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff has dined many a time at the motorcycle lovers' log cabin in the Rabun County town of Tiger.
"His hospitality was fantastic," Mr. Frazier said. "We had wonderful meals on his screened-in porch overlooking the mountains."
Mr. McKinnon sold the restaurant when he was 65.
"It was a lot of work, going from 10 a.m. to midnight, six days a week," his son said. "I think he got tired."
Additional survivors include his wife of six years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon; a daughter, Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta; a sister, Marjorie Simpson of Savannah; and five grandchildren.
June 19, 2010
William McKinnon Jr.
William Boston McKinnon, Jr. of Darien, Georgia passed away on Tuesday June 15, 2010.
Born on September 30, 1935, in Milledgeville, Georgia, he was the son of William Boston McKinnon and Ethelyn Nightingale McKinnon of Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. McKinnon was raised in Savannah, Georgia, graduated from the Hun Preparatory School in Princeton, New Jersey and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1953 to 1961. In 1961 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked as a stock broker for a number of years. After a brief apprenticeship at the famed Galatoire's Restaurant in New Orleans, in 1972 he opened McKinnon's Louisiane Restaurant in Atlanta, where it remains in successful operation as a hallmark of fine dining. Mr. McKinnon was fortunate to have developed a rewarding career from his love of cooking which he enthusiastically shared with his family and many friends. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a former member of the National Restaurant Association, the American Institute of Wine and Food, the International Association of Cooking Professionals, the Pickwick Club of New Orleans, the Oglethorpe Club of Savannah, and the Savannah Yacht and County Club.
Mr. McKinnon is survived by his wife of 6 years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon, a son and daughter-in-law, William Boston McKinnon, III and Theresa of Bethesda, MD; grandchildren William, Daniel, Lillian, Thomas, and James; daughter Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta, GA; sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie McKinnon Simpson and John Ely Simpson of Savannah; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by sister Lynn McKinnon Glendinning.
A graveside service will be held at the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick, GA Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at The McKinnon House located at 1001 Egmont Street, Brunswick, Georgia. Arrangements are in the care of Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, Demorest, GA.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
June 22, 2010
Billy McKinnon, 74: Founder of McKinnon's Louisiane restaurant
Billy McKinnon tried to be a stockbroker but he couldn't sink his teeth into the profession.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In early 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In the late 1960s, he left a job in New York City and returned to his roots, settling in Atlanta. His first wife hailed from New Orleans and had family contacts with the owners of Galatoire's, a respected old-school restaurant known for its culinary excellence.
For three months, Mr. McKinnon worked for free at the Bourbon Street establishment. He learned the food business and mastered Creole and Cajun cuisine.
"He did whatever he was told to do," said his son, William Boston McKinnon III of Bethesda, Md.
In 1972, Mr. McKinnon opened McKinnon's Louisiane on Cheshire Bridge Road. In 2002, the restaurant celebrated its 30th anniversary and today it's still going strong at its Buckhead location.
In 2002, the founder sold the business to Aziz Mehram, who'd worked at the establishment for years.
"His knowledge of food and my expertise in service made this happen," Mr. Mehram said. "It's a trend we continue to this day."
In recent years, William Boston McKinnon Jr.had moved to coastal Darien in South Georgia. Last Tuesday, he was in North Georgia when he suffered a fatal heart attack while picking fruits and vegetables at a friend's house. He was 74. A graveside service will be 11 a.m. today in the Palmetto Cemetery in Brunswick. Whitfield Funeral Home in Demorest is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McKinnon was born in Milledgeville, but raised in Savannah. He majored in business administration at the University of Georgia and after college put his bachelor's degree to use at a New York City firm.
"He was a good financial person," his son said, "but he didn't have the passion. "In the 70s, there were not that many fine-dining choices in Atlanta. He realized something was missing."
Nowadays, McKinnon's is an Atlanta tradition often lauded by food critics and out-of-town visitors in this restaurant chic city. Mr. Mehram credits the success of the business to the man he respected like a father.
"His taking care of the menu made McKinnon's what it is now," he said. "No doubt about it."
The menu includes items like chicken livers with andouille sausage and crawfish etouffee. Mr. McKinnon jokingly called his eggplant "the baby laxative" in a 1990 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Why? Apparently a pregnant woman ordered the dish and went into labor after she'd devoured the dish. Other pregnant women did likewise.
"If the baby doesn't come in 48 hours, the dinner is on the house," he said at the time.
At home, Mr. McKinnon spent hours poring over recipes in one of his 400-plus cookbooks to prepare lunches or dinners. A.D. Frazier of Mineral Bluff has dined many a time at the motorcycle lovers' log cabin in the Rabun County town of Tiger.
"His hospitality was fantastic," Mr. Frazier said. "We had wonderful meals on his screened-in porch overlooking the mountains."
Mr. McKinnon sold the restaurant when he was 65.
"It was a lot of work, going from 10 a.m. to midnight, six days a week," his son said. "I think he got tired."
Additional survivors include his wife of six years, Elizabeth Forbes McKinnon; a daughter, Clerc Nightingale McKinnon of Atlanta; a sister, Marjorie Simpson of Savannah; and five grandchildren.
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