The Honorable William Andrew McClain was born on January 11, 1913, in Sanford, North Carolina, to Frank McClain and Blanche Leslie McClain. He was an only child. McClain graduated from Springfield High School in 1930 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University in 1934, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. His oratory skills were remarkable, as he was the first African American to win both the state and national Intercollegiate Oratorical Association contests held at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio in February 1934 , and first place at the National Interstate Oratorical Association at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in April 1934.
In 1937, McClain earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He was inducted into the United States Army on October 13, 1943, and was assigned to the Judge Advocate General’s Branch. After being honorably discharged, he became the first Black member of the Lawyers Club of Cincinnati in 1947. His journey to gain membership in the Cincinnati Bar Association was challenging; he was denied twice before finally being admitted in 1951, making him the first African American member of that association.
From 1963 to 1972, McClain served as the City Solicitor of Cincinnati, becoming the first African American to hold this legal position in Cincinnati and, indeed, any city in the United States. After leaving the City Solicitor role, he practiced law privately in 1975 and 1976 before serving as a judge in both the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court of Hamilton County until 1980, making him the first Black judge in that capacity.
From 1980 to 2003, McClain worked with the law firm Manley Burke in Cincinnati and also served as the Director of Legal Services for the Village of Lincoln Heights. Additionally, from 1984 to 1986, he was Grand Sire Archon of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the first Greek-letter fraternity founded in Philadelphia in 1904, primarily for African American professional men. During his presidency, McClain not only reinforced the fraternity’s commitment to supporting African American professionals but also championed critical social issues affecting the community. .
In 2004, Wittenberg University named a cultural house after him, calling it “The William A. McClain Culture House,” in recognition of his community service. This was later renamed the Diversity House in 2012, as it became home to various student organizations, including the American International Association, Concerned Black Students, and the Gay/Straight Alliance.
McClain was also a 33rd-degree Mason and served as Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, McClain held honorary doctorates from Wilberforce University and the University of Cincinnati, conferred in 1963 and 1971, respectively. In 2013, he received the Wittenberg Medal of Honor, celebrating his remarkable achievements as he turned 100 years old.
The Honorable William Andrew McClain, who was married to Roberta White McClain, died on February 4, 2014, at the age of 101.
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