With Edgar Kaplan, Kay formed one of the most successful and longest-lasting partnerships in organized bridge.
[3] In 1955, Kay won the McKenney Trophy (now the Barry Crane Top 500) for earning the greatest number of masterpoints in American Contract Bridge League-sanctioned play during the year.
Kay won 13 major North American Bridge Championships (NABC) in the period of 1957–1977, when he was named ACBL's top performance player.
According to Alan Truscott, Kay "bent over backward to avoid criticizing his partner, or his opponents, blaming himself for any misfortune if he possibly could.
"[4] Kay was an account executive for Merrill Lynch for 38 years, retiring as a vice president in 1987.