William C. McClean, a retired Polytechnic Institute teacher and athletic coach who was a standout player on the school's 1929 and 1930 football teams, died of pneumonia Jan. 26 at St. Agnes Hospital. He was 97 and lived in the Charlestown Retirement Community.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Mechanicsburg, Pa., he was the son of a Bethlehem Steel Co. manager who was transferred to Sparrows Point in 1919 as it expanded operations there.
"My father, the only son in a family of six children, developed leadership skills and a wry sense of humor early on, as he sought to define his role in the family, with five sisters," said his son, William Chichester McClean III of Hobe Sound, Fla.
Mr. McClean, who was also known as "Chub," attended Polytechnic Institute. Family members said he excelled in academics and became an outstanding athlete and leader on playing fields of Baltimore. He led Poly teams in football and baseball. His name appeared in numerous newspaper accounts as he played against Severn, City, Gilman, Loyola and Calvert Hall.
In 1929, Mr. McClean "squirmed under a mass of players" to score the winning touchdown in a 7-0 victory over rival City College at the old Baltimore Stadium on 33rd Street.
The next year, 20,000 people witnessed him and his fellow Engineers defeat City 18-0. The story praised him as "the most dangerous runner on the field."
On Dec. 7, 1930, The Sun's sports staff picked its All-Maryland Scholastic team. Mr. McClean was called a "unanimous choice." It was the second year he had been named All-Maryland.
In naming him to the list, the article said, "McClean did most of the kicking, and mastered surprisingly well the art of punting from close formation for surprise kicks. His left-handed forward pass, often crossed to the right to upset an opposing defense completely, provided Poly with much deception in its aerial game. His versatility as a triple threat also kept his opponents guessing."
He was a member of the Johns Hopkins University Class of 1935.
"He concentrated in mathematics on his way to an engineering degree, but late in his junior year he switched concentration and prepared to become a teacher," his son said. "He was influenced by some of Poly's and Hopkins' best."
While at Hopkins, Mr. McClean played varsity baseball and football for four years and was football team captain in his senior year. He was president of the Student Council in his senior year and was elected to the Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity.
After graduation he went on to teach math and science at Forest Park High School in the 1940-1941 academic year.
In February 1941, he married Catherine Louise Hildebrandt at the Salem Lutheran Church in Catonsville. The couple lived in Catonsville the rest of their lives.
In 1941, he joined the Polytechnic faculty, where he also coached and was a counselor. During World War II, he took the accelerated course to become a lieutenant in the Navy and served in the Pacific aboard a landing ship tank.
In 1946, he returned to Poly as a guidance counselor and football and lacrosse coach. In 1956, he was recruited as the personnel administrator for Baltimore City Public Schools. He was responsible for recruiting, placing and supporting candidates to teach in Baltimore's public school system. He retired about 1975.
Mr. McClean was an active member of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church, where he was a trustee and elder. He also was an active member of the Catonsville Historical Society and an avid gardener.
"He was blessed with an inquiring mind, a gentle and loyal spirit, a loving family and countless friends and colleagues whom he had taught, coached, counseled, mentored and befriended," said his son.
Mr. McClean was also a Walters Art Museum volunteer tour guide.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Catonsville Presbyterian Church, 1400 Frederick Road, Catonsville.
In addition to his son, survivors include two sisters, Mary Elizabeth Mulquin of Blue Hill, Maine, and Rose Ellen Halstead of Towson; and two grandchildren. His wife of 53 years died in 1994.