An unveiling ceremony for the Mississippi Department of Archive and History marker honoring George McLean will be held on Thursday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. at 328 Summit Street in Winona.
George McLean was born in Winona in 1904 and later graduated from Winona High school. After earning his degree from the University of Mississippi he would eventually make his home in Tupelo where he would acquire a failing newspaper which is presently The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
In 1977 Mr. McLean was deeply concerned about the low reading scores of the elementary schools in Lee County. To remedy this deficiency he directed his newspaper, The Journal, to donate a sizeable amount of funds to pay for teacher’s aides dedicated to reading for all elementary schools in the county. The teacher’s aide program produced immediate results. National news outlets broadcast this success across the nation.
During Governor William Winter’s administration, legislation was passed adopting the Lee County reading program throughout the state of Mississippi. Governor Winter gave George McLean the highest praise for this innovation.
Later in life Mr. McLean would establish CREATE, Mississippi’s first and presently the largest community foundation. George McLean received TVA’s first Man of the Year award. The Progressive Farmer’s Magazine named Mr. McLean the Outstanding Citizen of the year.
Following the unveiling ceremony there will be a wreath laying at the gravesite of George and Kearsey McLean at the Oakwood Cemetery in Winona.
