Bernard “Lefty” McGinley, a native of Butte, Mont., was a 1938 graduate of the Montana State Normal College (MSNC) with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a major in social studies and minors in English, mathematics and physical education.
He lettered in basketball, baseball, football and track, earning 15 varsity letters. McGinley was a three-time all-conference selection in basketball and two-time all-conference selection in football.
Active on campus, McGinley was vice-president of M-Club, was a member of the student council and served as president of both the junior and senior classes.
After his junior year at MSNC he had the opportunity to play professional basketball with the San Francisco All-Americans. He chose instead to stay in Montana to finish his education.
After graduation, the first stop of his professional career in education was Browning, Mont. in the fall of 1938. He then moved to Bozeman, Mont. for two years where served as elementary supervisor before teaching a service connected course at Montana State. In 1944, he moved to Helena, Mont., beginning a 34-year stint at Helena High School.
McGinley retired in 1978 and moved to Missoula, Mont. where he passed away June 15, 2007.
