Floyd C. McClure

The service for the celebration and thanksgiving for the life of Floyd Claude "Mr. Mac" McClure, of Florence, will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Timothy H. Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. in Trinity's Mullen Hall.

Mr. Mac died on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, in his home at Regency Villa at the age of 91. He was born Aug. 28, 1914, in Oakley, Ill., and attended school in Decatur, Ill. He began playing the tuba when he was 11 years old and played several instruments in the high school band; he even played in a concert with John Philip Sousa.

He went to Murray State College in Murray, Ky., and graduated with a major in music and two minors in voice and biology. After college he performed professionally, playing string bass and singing with several dance bands in and around Chicago. In 1937, he moved to Thomasville, Ala., and began his teaching career. There he met Edwina Andrews, whom he married in 1938; they were together for 61 years until her death in 1999.

In 1940, Mr. Mac and Winnie moved to Florence, where he became the music supervisor for the Florence City School System and organized the first band for Coffee High School, a position he held for 33 years. In 1947, he started the state band contests held yearly in Tuscaloosa. For 10 years he was president of the Florence Teachers Association; the organizer and director of the Tri-Cities Oratorio Association; charter member and president of the Alabama Music Educators Association; charter member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity; member of Phi Beta Mu; and charter member and president of the Alabama Bandmasters' Association. In 1984, he was elected to the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. While at Coffee High School he also taught biology, economics and American government.

For 24 years, Mr. Mac was choir director and soloist at Trinity Episcopal Church. He played with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Florence Civic Orchestra and the Florence Big Band. Mr. Mac holds the record for having the highest number of students to become bandmasters.

In retirement, he taught private music lessons, played golf, grew azaleas, made grandfather clocks, and "fooled around with stained glass."

In addition to his wife, Edwina, he was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents, three sisters, several nieces and nephews, and a son-in-law, Morris Camp.

Mr. Mac is survived by daughters, Marilyn Camp of San Antonio, Texas, and Jackie Williams and husband, Roscoe, of Prattville, Ala.; grandchildren Scott Williams and wife, Melanie, of Atlanta, Ga., Chris Williams and wife, Amy, of Montgomery, Ala.; Margaret Camp, of New York, N.Y., Morris Camp and wife, Muffin, of San Antonio, Texas; great-grandchildren, Marshall and Garrett Williams of Atlanta, Ga.; Dison and Laney Williams, of Montgomery, Ala., and Tripp and Millie Camp, of San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy and thanksgiving may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church Choir.

Jackie and Marilyn would like to thank the second floor West staff at ECM Hospital, Drs. Michael Mitchell, James Northington and Edsel Holden. They would like to thank Regency Villa for the love and care given to him by both residents and staff.

A former student and bandmaster said, "During Mr. Mac's long career, he taught generations from many families. He also taught some lessons which are more important than playing the right note or rhythm. He taught his students personal responsibility, self-discipline, teamwork and pride in doing one's best. I think these are the lessons most people remember when they think of Mr. Mac."