Preceded by None (First) Education Dunbar High School Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party | Name C. McLin Succeeded by Rhine McLin Role American Politician Children Rhine McLin | |
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Died December 28, 1988, Kettering, Ohio, United States | ||
Clarence Josef McLin Jr. (May 31, 1921 – December 28, 1988), known as C. J. McLin, was an American politician of the Ohio Democratic party. McLin's father was civic leader C. J. "Mac" McLin Sr.
McLin's family moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1931, where he attended Dunbar High School and worked at the family business, the McLin Funeral Home, founded by his father. As a youth, McLin filed a civil rights lawsuit against McCrory's, a dime store at Fourth and Main streets in Dayton, for the store's refusal to serve him because of his race.
McLin was sworn in a twelfth term in 1988, but died a few days later. He was the longest serving black legislator in Ohio history at the time of his death. His daughter, Rhine McLin was appointed to fill his seat. He was also a Prince Hall Freemason.
He was the godfather of Candace Smith, Miss Ohio USA (2003).
The US 35 expressway in west Dayton, which was completed in October 1996, is designated the C. J. McLin Jr. Parkway in honor of McLin's longtime advocacy for and work toward the construction of such a highway.
Autobiography
C. J. McLin, Jr.'s autobiography is titled Dad, I Served: The Autobiography of C. J. McLin Jr. Wright State University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-9661647-0-9