Proud Michigan Tech alumnus George Mackey [1940-2022] spent a lifetime sharing his love for Michigan Tech with his family. Now, his children are strengthening his legacy with the establishment of the George and Judy Mackey Memorial Endowed Scholarship to create opportunities for local students.
Hailing from Calumet, Michigan, alumnus George Mackey ’64 ’66 needed a way to pursue a great education while staying close to home to help support his mother. Michigan Tech allowed him to do both.
A commuter to campus, Mackey frequently shared fond memories with his family: carpooling with fellow “townies” from Calumet, partaking in Winter Carnival fun, and reminiscing on his coursework. His children, and Michigan Tech donors, Kris Marvin and Scott Mackey, shared that he was so proud of Michigan Tech, his experience, and his degree.
“I thought Michigan Tech was an Ivy League school growing up from the way he talked about it,” Marvin shared. “I can’t tell you how much paraphernalia we have! I think he wore Michigan Tech apparel once a week, and his class ring was his most prized possession.”
Mackey originally started in mechanical engineering, but switched to civil engineering after noticing that “those guys got to be outside all day.” It was a perfect fit. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1964.
Immediately following graduation, he worked for the California Highway Department in San Diego. While he enjoyed the job, he never quite warmed up to California. A tried and true UP Finn, Mackey’s home growing up was one where fluent Finnish was spoken and pasties, apple crisp, and strong black coffee were always available—a far cry from the sunny lifestyle of Southern California.
He returned to Calumet to earn his MBA from Michigan Tech. After completing his degree in 1966, Mackey began his 35-year career with the Dow Chemical Company.
In his tenure at Dow, Mackey traveled the globe, visiting places like Russia, Denmark, and Japan to represent the company. One of his greatest career accomplishments was pioneering the research for insulation technology that is used on the Alaskan Pipeline—a key component that ensures the oil remains fluid and stable, even in extremely cold, Arctic temperatures. He also traveled to Alaska to supervise the installation of the technology.
Education was a key pillar to George and his wife, Judy. After he passed in February 2022, his family discovered that the Mackeys sent a student to college who could not afford it. They thought he was smart and deserving, and they had the means to help him—so they did. No questions asked.
“He always put good into the world,” said Marvin. “He did the right thing because it was the right thing. He was never looking for accolades. He just did good to put good into the world.”
Driving Legacy Forward
After their father passed away, his children decided that the best way to share George’s legacy was to help other students—something he deeply believed in. The George & Judy Mackey Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 2022 with the intent to support local students who are majoring in civil engineering.
Both George and Judy believed in leaving the world a little better than they found it, and they passed that desire on to their children. They firmly believed that any student who has the desire to learn should have the opportunity to learn, and nothing should get in the way of that.
"I feel strongly that dad would want to support a student from the area who has a desire to learn. I couldn't think of a better way to honor his memory than to set up this scholarship."
The scholarship has been awarded to two students since its establishment and will continue to support students for years to come.
January 8, 2025
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
