Robert "Bobby" McKinney attended Deshler High School in Tuscumbia. He played football for Coaches Howard Chappell and Shubie Sparks before the death of both parents led him to Corinth, Mississippi to continue high school and football. He was an All Tri-Cities selection as a Tiger and was an All Big Eight Conference Selection at Corinth High School. After high school he continue on to Northeast Mississippi Junior College were he stared on defense. Bobby was the awarded a football scholarship to the University of Mississippi where he was the starting center for the Rebels. During his time at Ole Miss he made two trips to Sugar Bowl and served as President of the "M" Club. While in Oxford he also participated in Golden Gloves Boxing. After graduating from college he played football in the Army while stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and had a brief stint playing professional football in Calgary, Canada.