Judge William A. McClain is surrounded by fellow members of the Prince Hall Masons of the First Masonic District of Ohio at the observance of his 99th birthday Jan. 14 at Allen Temple AME Church. Photo by GL Lewis Photography One of Cincinnati’s most respected citizens, Judge William A. Mc- Clain, celebrated his 99th birthday Jan. 14 at Allen Temple AME Church with relatives, friends and former colleagues in the judicial system.

Judge McClain’s judicial and legal career was marked by a series of firsts. He served as Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge, Municipal Court Judge, and as Cincinnati's city solicitor from 1963 to 1972 -- the first African American in the nation to hold such a high municipal legal office. In 1972, he joined Keating Muething & Klekam as the first African American to serve in a major law firm in Cincinnati. The judge practiced law with the Manley Burke firm for more than 20 years before his retirement a few years ago. He still maintains an office at the firm.

William A. McClain was born on January 11, 1913, in Sandford, North Carolina. He attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934. In 1937, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

As a University of Michigan Law School graduate, he became the first Black member of the Lawyers Club in 1947, after a heated debate over his admission. He was twice denied admission to the all-White Cincinnati Bar Association, but was finally admitted as the first African American to that organization in 1951. Later in his career, he received that bar association’s highest award for lifetime achievement. He has been a member of the Bar of Ohio for about 74 years (1938-2012).

In 2003, Judge McClain was honored by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian, among other recognitions he has received. Carl H. Lindner, a friend and benefactor of Judge McClain, established a scholarship for minority college students in Mc- Clain’s name at Wittenberg University. On October 13, 2003, the International Municipal Lawyers Association awarded Judge McClain the Charles S. Rhyne Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award, which is the highest award of the organization.

On March 31, 2004, Judge McClain was inducted into the Hall of Excellence of the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges in recognition of his lifetime achievements as a graduate of Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio. On Oct. 23, 2004, Wit tenberg University dedicated “The William A. McClain Black Culture House” in honor of his life and career as the only black graduate in the Class of 1934.

Judge McClain lost his wife, Roberta "Bert" (White) McClain, last January.