Joe A. McCLAIN

of Dade City, passed away with his family by his side on July 30, 2016. He was born July 16, 1928 in Etowah, TN, to Joe H. and Ella McClain. He spent his childhood in Etowah and graduated from Etowah High School where he played football, ran track, was the basketball team manager, and served as President of his class all four years. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps from 1950 to 1952 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Afterwards, he received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Stetson University in 1955. While at Stetson, he was elected and served as President of his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, President of the Intra-Fraternity Council, and President of the Student Body. He graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1958, and was admitted to the Florida Bar that same year. Joe is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo Claire Edwards McClain. He has six daughters, Melinda McClain, Harriet (Gary) Riddaugh, Nancy (Dennis) Alfonso, Sallie (Bob) Clark, Jan (Shawn) Lowdermilk, and Pam (Jamey) Bryant. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Andrew and Austin Riddaugh, Alex and India Alfonso, Bailey and Cameron Clark, Alex, Taylor, and Lyndsay Lowdermilk, and McClain and Nicholas Bryant; one great-grandchild, Rhyder Bryant; and his sister, Jean Murphy of Zephyrhills. He served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1958-1962. He was a member and two-time President of the Pasco Country Bar Association, 1966 and 1975, a member of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association from 1973-2005, and was a 50 year member of the Florida Bar. He served as Assistant State Attorney under James Russell, from 1964-1971, during which time he handled all Pasco County prosecutions and was lead counsel in all felony trials. He served as General Counsel to the Pasco County School Board from 1972 to 2002, and as General Counsel to Jed Pittman, Clerk of Circuit Court, from 1977 until his retirement. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Egypt Shriners. He also made an impact on our community by serving as a member of the Board of Directors for several local businesses and organizations. Joe's family will receive friends Saturday, August 6, 2:00-4:00 pm, at which time a service will be held at the Hwy. 301 Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest at Chapel Hill Gardens. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons, and honorary pallbearers will be his close friends and associates, Dr. Sebastian Catalano, Dan Dwyer, Dr. Behrouz Madani, Kevin Roberts, Chad Roberts, Bill Sestak, and Tom Weightman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be considered to the Joe A. McClain Memorial Scholarship, Pasco Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1248, Land O'Lakes, FL 34639.