The Kays of McCook and the Red Willow County Fair

One of McCook's very early physicians was Dr. Zachius L. Kay, from Kentucky, who graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 1876.

After graduation he practiced medicine for a short time in Illinois. Of interest to McCook is the fact that while in Illinois, the first baby that Dr. Kay delivered (of more than 3000 in his career) was George McClain, who later became a long-time Sheriff of Red Willow County, Neb.

In 1884, Dr. Kay came to McCook as Company Physician for the Burlington Railroad, and practiced medicine in our city until his death in 1937.

Dr. Kay was a man of great abilities. Early settlers described him as being "of noble character". Though medicine was somewhat primitive on the frontier at that time, he was inventive in developing procedures and improving surgical instruments for use in his practice, "to alleviate pain and suffering in this area". Upon his death these frontier- day vintage instruments were willed to St. Catherine's Hospital.

Smoking, in those early days, was widespread and Dr. Kay was somewhat unique in that he preached to his patients, with great vigor, of the evils and danger to health of the "vile habit."

This, however, did not prevent Dr. Kay, himself, from smoking big black cigars. He also counseled his patients about the importance of eating well, and avoiding between meal snacks. Yet, Dr. Kay was a regular at the local restaurants for afternoon coffee and a piece of pie. Always known as a big eater, Dr. Kay's motto was, "Do as I say, not as I do".

Dr. Kay was a long time chairman of the "Sanity Board". He was a caring man and enjoyed the confidence of the many people he interviewed over the years. According to a story in the Gazette, "he was said to have a shrewd insight into a person's behavior, for a man who had little formal training in psychology".

On the occasion of Dr. Kay's 50th Anniversary of practice in McCook, a huge celebration and dinner were held in his honor. Dr. Byron Davis, the Eminent Omaha Surgeon, and a former McCook physician, came back to McCook to preside at the banquet for his old friend and former colleague.

At his death in 1937, the McCook Gazette paid its respects to Dr. Kay, calling him "the most beloved man in the city".

Dr. Kay's son, Elmer, was born in Illinois in 1878, and came with his family to McCook in 1884. He began school in McCook and had the distinction of being the first person ever to complete the full course, from first grade through high school in the McCook system. He was a fleet halfback on McCook's first football team, and was a member of McCook's first high school band and MHS first orchestra.

Following graduation from high school in 1895, Elmer lived in Joplin, Missouri, where his father practiced medicine for a short time before returning to McCook. In Joplin Elmer served as a bookkeeper and ore buyer for the Pritcher Lead Co.

Later, after his marriage to Zylpha Gunter, he worked as cashier, paymaster, and auditor for the Wells Fargo Express Co. in Chicago.

In 1907 Elmer and his bride returned to McCook where he took on the duties of Manager for the McCook Commercial Hotel, as well as Manager of the old "Burlington Eating House."

In 1912, he was elected to his first term as Clerk of the District Court, a position he held until his death in 1943. Later, he also served as Deputy Clerk of the U.S. District Court. Elmer Kay was active in many of McCook's organizations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the McCook Elks' Lodge. He followed his father in serving on the County Sanity Board. He was active in the McCook Chamber of Commerce and for a time served as the Managing Secretary of that group. He was a pillar in the County Republican organization. During World War II, he served as the local leader of the County Civil Defense Organization.

But it was as the Secretary and Manager of the Red Willow County Fair Association, beginning in 1920, that he is most commonly identified. Kay was a key figure in almost every aspect of fair business -- the planning, building, and financing of every building (at the present site of the fairgrounds), which was built during his tenure. He personally supervised the layout of the grounds and the racetrack, which during the '20s and '30s, was the premier attraction of the Red Willow County Fair.

Whether it was Kay's interest in horses that led to his work with the County Fair, or the other way around, after 1920 he spent the rest of his life promoting trotting horse racing and the Red Willow County Fair. Under Kay's leadership Southwest Nebraska became the hotbed of harness racing in the state. Its popularity is shown by the fact that grandstand seating for 3,500 fans was needed for the races.

It was said that "high rollers" from Denver regularly attended races in McCook and added much "excitement" to the event. (Note: As part of McCook's Centennial celebration in 1982, an effort was made to hold a session of harness racing at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds, for "Old Times Sake."

Alas, it was found that there is no longer any harness racing in Nebraska or even anywhere in Midwest America.)

Even into the final years of his life Elmer Kay was breeding fine racing (trotting) horses in McCook. His skill as a breeder and trainer of harness horses was well known, leading not only to acclaim for McCook, as a harness racing center, but it also resulted in Kay's being named to the Nebraska State Racing Association.

Two of the finest race horses ever foaled in Nebraska, "Indianola" (a regular racing horse, where the jockey rides on the back of his horse), from the Plourd Stables, of Indianola, and "Kent Bumpas (a trotting horse), from the Kay Stables of McCook, came out of Red Willow County. Though the two never raced against each other, they dominated their respective types of horse racing throughout the Midwest for some years.

Elmer Kay passed away, at age 65, in February, 1943 after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, Lois and Elizabeth and one son, Elmer, Jr. Though his brand of horse racing (harness racing) is gone from our area, he is still remembered through his work with the Red Willow County Fair. The continued growth and expansion of the Red Willow County Fair-Grounds, with the leadership of Tom Kiplinger, is something with which Mr. Kay would be most proud.

Source: Trails West by Ray and Rutledge; McCook Gazette Centennial Edition, 1982