William David McCain
| William David McCain | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Fifth president The University of Southern Mississippi, 1955-75 | |
| National leader of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, 1953-93 | |
| Major General in the Mississippi National Guard, | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 29, 1907 Bellefontaine, Mississippi |
| Died | September 5, 1993 (aged 86) |
| Political party | Democrat, States' Rights Democratic Party (Dixiecrats) |
| Spouse(s) | Minnie Leicester Lenz |
| Children | William D., Jr., John W., and Patricia |
| Residence | Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
| Alma mater | Delta State University, Ole Miss, and Duke University |
William David McCain (March 29, 1907, in Bellefontaine, MS – September 5, 1993) was a recognized leader of the Mississippi political establishment and a leader in its struggle in the 1950s and 1960s to maintain the "southern way of life". He served as Mississippi state archivist, a Major General in the Mississippi National Guard, longtime leader and promoter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, fifth president and major architect of Mississippi Southern College (now The University of Southern Mississippi).
McCain married the former Minnie Leicester Lenz on October 3, 1931, and they were parents of three children: William D., Jr., John W., and Patricia.
In 1924, McCain enlisted as a private in the Mississippi National Guard. He served with General Mark Clark in Italy during World War II, and also served during the Korean War. Remaining in the National Guard, he rose to the rank of Major General. As part of his military interest, McCain later very strongly promoted a large ROTC at the University of Southern Mississippi when he was president there. Over thirty officers were commissioned out of the 1970 class.
McCain attended Delta State University (then College), received an MA from The University of Mississippi, a Ph.D. from Duke, and an honorary L.D. from Mississippi College.
After teaching at several junior colleges and both Ole Miss and Mississippi State University (then College), he became director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, serving from 1938 to 1955. In addition, he worked as a historian at Morristown National Historical Park in Morristown, New Jersey (1935) and served as Assistant Archivist at the US National Archives in Washington, D.C. (1935–1937).
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