William Chalres "Unkie" McClain

William Charles “Unkie” McClain was born on July 9, 1918 in Bessemer, Alabama. He moved to Huntington, West Virginia at the age of 3 years old with his mother, sister and two brothers. He was the youngest of four children. He attended Barnett Elementary School and graduated from Douglass High School where he lettered in basketball and football. At a young age he was baptized at Young Chapel AME Church on Eighteen Street, Huntington, West Virginia.

He was drafted into the Negro Army Air Corp during World War II stationed at the Presidio, California. He was the base commander’s assistant and entertainer with the base talent performers for the Negro troops. He was a proud Veteran. He was a member of American Legion Smith-Craddick Post 47 on 10th Avenue. After returning home, he was a house painter, waiter at the Prichard Hotel Hunt Club on 6th Avenue and Ninth Street. Later Mr. Willie Howard hired him at the Cabell County Courthouse. Many of his friends who were in the war worked with him.

In 1968, he became an “entrepreneur”. He opened “Unkie’s Shoe Shine Parlor” on 16th Street, now Hal Greer Blvd. It was a place of understanding, respect, and camaraderie for the black men of Huntington. The older men of the neighborhood loved “Unkie’s”. No women were allowed. He supported all community organizations, churches, lodges and children. Unkie’s Shoe Shine Parlor was a fixture in the black community for over 40 years.

William Charles “Unkie” McClain passed away at the age of 75 years old on August 6, 1993, from esophageal cancer. He is buried in the Negro section of Spring Hill Cemetery.