Edward Lee McClain Day is Sept. 27; event just one piece of a big weekend with homecoming and Oktoberfest
Danny Long is pictured in front of McClain High School's marble staircase as Edward Lee McClain during the event in 2021. Long has portrayed Edward Lee McClain every year and is planning to reprise the role at this year's event as well. (Angela Shepherd/GEVS)
By Angela Shepherd
GEVS
The Greenfield community has long honored the memory of Edward Lee and Lulu McClain. One of those ways of honoring the McClains and their generosity is the annual Edward Lee McClain Day, which will be held during homecoming weekend this year.
Honoring the McClains in this way began in 2016, a year after McClain High School alumni, residents, students, staff, and visitors celebrated 100 years since the high school was dedicated and opened to students. The beloved high school was a gift from Greenfield native, industrialist and philanthropist Edward Lee McClain and his wife, Lulu.
The program will be held in the McClain cafeteria and begins at 10 a.m. on Sept 27. Along with the program itself, there will be a historic picture and document display for viewing by attendees, and following the program, tours of the school.
Superintendent Quincey Gray said the tours will not only provide attendees the opportunity to take in what the McClains built, but to also see the updated chemistry classroom and witness the progress of the auditorium renovation.
The timing of the event was intentional, as it is homecoming weekend and folks will be in town for that. This also provides people the chance to be a part of not only homecoming activities, but Edward Lee McClain Day and then perhaps they can grab a meal in town, and then go on to take in the annual Oktoberfest set for the evening of Sept. 27 in downtown Greenfield.
Alumni members interested in participating in the marching band activities of the Sept. 26 homecoming game where the McClain Tigers will face off against the Blue Lions of Washington Court House can find information about signing up on the McClain Marching Tigers Facebook page.
To stay informed about what is happening in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District, you can check out the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us, the district’s social media pages, and the Facebook pages of each building.