One life that touched many
More than 100 people from throughout the community filed into the pews of Union Baptist Church last Saturday morning to honor the life and legacy of neighborhood hero, William Alexander McCain. McCain, died on Feb. 11 from complications of a rare disease known as cardiac amyloidosis.
For nearly 50 years McClain, who was known throughout the community as “Mr. Bill,” dedicated his resources, time, and energy, to uplifting youth who needed it most. No matter if it was through his AAU basketball team, his work at the Boys and Girls Club, the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS), the after-school program, his nonprofit G.I.D.E. (Guiding Institute For Developmental Education), or his entertainment production company, Mr. Bill touched the lives of countless young people.
When asked what kind of person McClain was, everyone I spoke with described a man who had a fervent desire to inspire disadvantaged youth to become responsible and productive members of the community. McClain had a gift for taking activities like basketball, music, or even homework, and using it to teach real life lessons.
Toya Evans, a teacher at Ashley Elementary School, said McClain gave her her first job when she was only 14 years old. Evans, who lived in the same neighborhood as McClain, said he’s the reason why she decided to work with children. She also credits him for her work ethic.
Reggie Hunt, who played on McClain’s NC Select AAU basketball team in the early ‘90s, described his coaching style as easygoing. “Bill was patient during a time when it was in style for coaches to be harsh on players,” he said. Hunt, who is the principal at Ron Brown Preparatory High School in Washington, D.C., said what he admired most about McClain was how much he seemed to enjoy the work he was doing in the community.
“What I always admired about him was that he simply enjoyed being around young folk who were doing positive things and trying to find their way in the world,” he said. “He has a presence in the lives of countless young people over the years and I’m thankful to have been one of them.”
Nicole Austin, attorney with Lincoln Financial Group, said she met McClain through his work with HAWS. Austin, who is a 2013 graduate of Wake Forest University, said it was McClain who took her on campus for the first time. Through a program called Coach’s Kids, McClain would often receive free tickets to Wake Forest football and basketball games for youth in the community. Austin said McClain was with her the first time she stepped foot on Wake’s campus and he was there on the day she walked across the stage and received her degree.
“That was a full circle for me – despite having lived in Winston my whole life, I had never been on Wake’s campus except when Mr. Bill took kids to the games,” Austin said. “He introduced me to the big school up the road that would later become my alma mater. From a kid in the stands, then standing on the field for photos with Mr. Bill, was nostalgic for me.”
Through his entertainment production company, Mr. Bill’s Productions, McClain also introduced hundreds of youth to music and all the work that goes on behind the scenes. And even when he gave up the business just a few years ago, his generosity continued to shine through. McClain donated almost $30,000 in music equipment to the ‘EZ Groove Band,’ which he helped start in 2020.
Outside of his work with the youth and Mr. Bill’s Productions, McClain also served on several boards and supported a number of different organizations. Allan Younger, N.C. Idea’s senior director for programs, said McClain was one of his mentors. Younger said McClain’s love for the community rubbed off on everyone he met.
“During the last few years we were both members of the New Canaan Society and he provided leadership as a member of the board of directors,” Younger said. “His love for the community was contagious, resulting in many more people who learned to love their community unconditionally.”
For his dedicated service to the community, McClain has been recognized locally and on the national stage. In 2017, McClain was one of just 15 mentors across the country to be recognized by The Afterschool Alliance, the only national organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after-school programs and advocating for more after-school investments.
While discussing his work with young people during an interview with The Chronicle in 2017, McClain said, “God told me to work with children.”
And that’s exactly what he did.
Although McClain isn’t with us physically, the legacy of Mr. Bill will certainly live on through the lives he touched.
