A backdrop to growing up in basketball rich Selmer — example to be strived for—a legend to be remembered—the McClain Bros.
Thank you—Larry Perkins

Bear McClain thank you for all the memories. As a little boy i watched you and your brother Wayne play Basketball at Selmer High.  Bear and Wayne took Selmer High School to State Champs . R I P  Bear you made so many people happy. Norman Sheffield Selmer High School, Selmer Tn.

The Treadwell basketball games of the 60s were absolute magic. I so well remember going to the games as a little squirt. The players, Darrell Garret, Mike Friday, Curry Todd and the others all seemed to be about 7 and a half feet tall, and Coach McClain was held in awe. Great memories. Thank you Coach McClain!

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Bill McClain.  My husband, Wayne Brown, worked for Memphis City Schools and enjoyed their conversations at Treadwell.  He first knew Bill in high school when he played basketball at Selmer and Wayne played at Bolivar Central.  Bill was a blessing to him as they remembered those days.  God bless each of you as you have many happy memories to treasure.

I never played for Coach McClain but played against his Treadwell teams back in the olden days. His teams were always well coached and very good. I went to  Overton when the school first opened for my 10th grade year in 1959. Coach McClain visited with me and my family in Colonial Acres. He wanted me to come play for him at Treadwell instead of going to Overton.  He knew my Dad because my Dad played basketball for Ramer, TN, high school in McNairy County, Ramer being down the road from Selmer. Dad was on the 1932 team when they won the state championship in basketball. They held the championship until 1937 when the tournament was held for the first time after 1932 due to the Great Depression. Coach knew of my Dad being on that team, and he always over the years brought it up whenever I and he ran into each other.  He was a great coach and a great man; his players, most of which I knew in the olden days, had the highest regards and respect for him. May God bless his family, Wayne Capooth, M.D.  

I was so saddened to read about Coach McClain's passing.  We met the McClains when we joined Leawood and he and my father became fast friends. He was daddy's favorite fishing buddy.  I also had the pleasure of having him as my Vice Principal at REHS. Wonderful man...Wonderful family Sending prayers of comfort and peace to Mike and Ronny.  So sorry for your loss. 

My first recollection of Coach was when I was a little  7 year old girl standing at the bookstore looking up at this huge man  wanting to buy an eraser or a #2 pencil.  And the older I got I bought the Ludens.. "Are you going to eat them, he would ask? lol! And in 67-68 my senior year I had him for American History.  Great teacher. He even called the girls by their last name. "Hey Grisham".

 The "Bear" was bigger than life.  Oh what an amazing presence he was. We loved basketball season at Treadwell. Excitement in the air. After all, we are the Eagles .  Coach will be missed. We all loved and admired him. RIP .  You are missed. 

RIP, Bear.  

My Dad and I thought so much of you!  

Dad always enjoyed teaching and working with Coach McClain in any project around the School!  

Ahhh . . . wonderful memories of Coach McClain.

•	During our elementary and junior high days, Coach McClain ran the bookstore.  He asked if we really needed those cherry cough drops – or were we eating them as candy (Now I confess, it was the latter).

•	How good it was to see Coach McClain when he attended many class reunions over the years.

•	As basketball coach for the Treadwell Eagles during the 1960’s era, he was a legend.  He coached top-ranked teams in local and statewide polls.  Many championship trophies decorated our trophy case.

•	A strict disciplinarian with his/our teams (after all, he was ‘The Bear’):  Wind-sprints and running the bleachers ensured our stamina was second-to-none . . . and yes, he really did call our homes for ‘bed-checks’ to make sure we were home by the designated time. (There was a price to pay if he called back 30 minutes later and found someone had subsequently gone out – maybe an early version of “Trust, but Verify?”). 

•	After basketball pep rallies, the student body flooded the hallways on the way back to class singing:  

“We are the Eagles, mighty, mighty Eagles
Everywhere we go, people want to know, who are we?
So, we tell them, WE ARE THE EAGLES, MIGHTY, MIGHTY EAGLES – WE’RE NUMBER ONE!”

So, Coach, from a chorus of proud Eagles, we remember how you instilled a winning spirit to prepare us for life, and we send our thanks and sincere condolences to the family.

Jim Riggan
Class of 1964


Thank you coach for all our wonderful memories at Treadwell. You taught all of us how to be strong and succeed in life. Great Job !!!!God Bless you and your family. Go Eagles fly with pride!

Coach McClain was definitely by far a great man. I knew him as principal at Raleigh Egypt my mom knew him as  Coach McClain at Treadwell. I think everyone knew him he left a mark and huge impression on Memphis and everyone's life he  came in contact with. He attended even students funerals that passed before him. Truly a passionate man. He loved all of us kids as his own. The last words he spoke were so true graduating I remember look around you you may never see these faces again! And very true and sad.  RIP Coach . 

Bear’s first announcement every morning on the PA was about the success of academic or athletic pursuits of his Pharaohs. He loved his students like they were his own children. Our cheerleaders always ranked nationally while he was principal because he supported their athleticism before it was a sanctioned sport. He’s in heaven now. God’s BEAR has made it home.


Coach McClain started every basketball game with a team huddle and his prayer quoting Grantland Rice . . .

"When the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name – He marks not whether you won or lost – but how you played the game."  (Grantland Rice, American sportswriter)

God Bless You, Coach.  Rest in Peace.

Jim Riggan 
Class of 1964


I remember during basketball practice, Coach McClain would Station someone at the top of the bleachers at Treadwell if he expected his wife to be coming.  Apparently, he didn't want her hear him say anything,  that was not considered appropriate, to the players.

Our families have shared some great memories & enjoyable times together!  Keeping you in our prayers.
     The Family of Pete Meadows.  ——— Jo Ann, Renee, Rickey & Melody

Mr McClain was an upstanding principal, a great man of integrity. He will definitely be missed. I loved my school, and feel blessed to have been a pharaoh.

It was a pleasure to work with Coach at Raleigh Egypt High School. He always had a good story to tell everyday at lunch. Mr Pugh allowed the coaches to have lunch in his office and Coach would always “stick his head in the door” to say hello. He was a lot of fun. A good man that’ll be missed by everyone that knew him.  R.I.P., Coach.

I attended Treadwell for 12 years. I had him for world geography and study hall. My fondest memory is him calling everyone by their last name.  I saw him at several functions where Eagles were gathered over the last 10 years. A fine man, indeed! RIP Coach!

He was the kind of man that we all looked up to and learned from. His presence will be missed. He is truly flying high like an Eagle should.

I always felt like I could go to Coach McClain if I needed anything. He was well known around Memphis as a winning coach!!!

I’m so very sad for the entire family.

Great man!!! Actually taught me a lot. I called him "The Duke" Mainly because of how he spoke. I still remember I was mocking him (respectively) on how he would make announcements and he was standing right behind me......I was scared half to death. We laughed about that for the rest of the school year. He always stood for what he thought was right. Regardless of what others may have thought. Gotta respect a man like that.......Gonna miss ya Mr. McClain......"The Duke".....Rest well Sir.......

I attended Treadwell for 12 years.  I think it was 2nd grade when I first ran into and recognized him on the stairs in the Elementary School the morning after a big basketball game.  I was awestruck.  Later, I would buy supplies for the class from him at the bookstore.

I had him for gym classes and World Geography.  He was a good guy.  He knew basketball and  was a good player at Memphis.  

OBITUARY

Bill "Bear" McClain

10 September, 1932 – 11 December, 2021

Memphis Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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