By Betsy Theroux
LILBURN, Ga. | State Rep. Dewey McClain (D-Lilburn) recently received the 2022 East Central (Okla.) University (ECU) Distinguished Alumni Award. McClain will be formally recognized at ECU’s “Evening of Honors and Recognition” event on May 6 in Ada, Okla.
McClain
Of the award, McClain says: “I am honored and proud to be recognized by my alma mater, and I look forward to returning to Oklahoma to accept this award. When I first graduated from ECU, I had no idea what all life had in store for me. However, the education and opportunities I received from ECU laid the foundation for me to succeed and accomplish my goals. I want to thank ECU for the incredible support they have provided to me and continue to provide to today’s students.”
ECU Interim President Jeffrey Gibson says: “ECU is honored to present this award to Mr. McClain. The lasting legacy he carries with him and his life’s work represents our university well.”
One of 11 children in his home in Okmulgee, Okla., McClain played football at and graduated from ECU with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1976. He was named an “All-American” football player while playing for the ECU Tigers.
After graduating from ECU, he played football in the National Football League with the Atlanta Falcons for five years and then with the U.S. Football League with the Oakland Invaders and Oklahoma Outlaws. He is a founding member and former president of the NFL Players Association Metro Atlanta Chapter. He was inducted into the Freedom Bowl Hall of Fame, Atlanta Tribune Magazine Hall of Fame and East Central University Hall of Fame (1983).
He also serves on the board of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust Fund. In addition to his hall of fame accolades, McClain has received the NFLPA Chapter of the Year Award three times and is a past recipient of the Jesse Jackson Sportsman of the Year Award. He is the immediate past chairman of the NFLPA Former Players, an executive committee member on the current player’s board and is a past member of the Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl Committee.
In Georgia, McClain currently serves as the House whip for the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. He was president of the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council AFL-CIO from 2013 to 2019. He also serves on the Georgia Council on Child Abuse, the Atlanta United Way, the Special Olympics, Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta, Life Link Foundation, the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, and many other organizations.
McClain met his wife, Linda Evans, in high school. They currently reside in the Lilburn area. The couple have two daughters and four grandsons.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013 and currently serves on the Industry and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Motor Vehicles and State Planning and Community Affairs committees. He has no one in 2022 opposing his re-election.
East Central University is located in Ada, Oklahoma. Among its graduates are four Oklahoma governors, including Robert S. Kerr, noted for his long tenure in the U.S. Senate. ESU was a pioneer in efforts among Oklahoma universities to promote access to students with disabilities and the development of corresponding undergraduate and graduate degree programs for rehabilitation services, services to the deaf, and similar areas. Today the campus consists of 40 buildings on 142.3 acres; the university typically enrolls more than 3,500 students per semester.
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