Celebrating his 101st birthday last month, Jack W. MacKay continues the lifelong enthusiasm and dedication to the profession that drives him to remain a practicing engineer. From his inventions to his leadership to his instruction, he is definitely a pioneer of cast iron and steel pipe, and the field would not be where it is today without his efforts.
A native of Asheville, N.C., MacKay earned two bachelor’s degrees from The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering: aerospace engineering in 1935 and civil engineering in 1936. In 1936, he accepted a position with American Cast Iron Pipe Co. in Birmingham, Ala., where he had a rewarding career of 39 years.