Donald Brenham McKay

Donald Brenham McKay (July 29, 1868 – September 8, 1960) was the owner and editor of the Daily Times newspaper in Tampa, Florida and served several terms as Mayor of Tampa from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1931.

Life and career McKay was born in Tampa on July 29, 1868. His grandfather was James McKay Sr., who also served as Mayor of Tampa. His father served as a county commissioner. The party excluded African Americans from meaningful involvement in Tampa's municipal elections for decades. As mayor he led infrastructure projects including street paving, sidewalk construction, brick firehouses, Tampa City Hall, and the fairgrounds. On December 30, 1913, he would welcome Tony Jannus after his airboat flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa, the first commercial flight in the U.S.

During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson appointed McKay to serve as the chairman of the President's Advisory Committee for Southwest Florida.

In 1928, he attended the dedication of a bridge to Davis Island.

Starting in 1946 and until his death, he wrote the column "Pioneer Florida" which was published in The Tampa Tribune. The Florida State Archives have a photo of him. The University of Tampa's auditorium would be renamed as the Donald Brenham McKay auditorium in 1960.