Former Clemson coach and Dillon native H.C. “Bill” McLellan, 81, passed away on Monday, September 30, in Greenville, South Carolina.
McLellan was born in Hamer, SC, on May 26, 1932 and was a graduate of Dillon High School in 1950. He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Agriculture Economics from Clemson University.
McLellan played for the Tigers for three years from 1951 to 1954 and played with the Tigers in the 1952 Gator Bowl. After graduation, he continued to work with the Clemson University athletics program, first as Assistant Athletics Business Manager and then as Assistant Athletic Director under Frank Howard.
McLellan was named Athletic Director at Clemson in 1971 and held the position through 1985. During his tenure, he pushed to expand Clemson’s athletic program to include women’s sports and to improve the facilities. He oversaw the building and financing for Clemson’s South upper deck in the late 70’s and the North upper deck in the early 80’s, bringing the Clemson Memorial Stadium up from 18,000 seats to 80,000. It became the first on-campus stadium to construct sky boxes. In May of 2013, the North deck was named in McLellan’s honor.
McLellan also helped lead Clemson to 34 ACC Championships in nine different sports during his tenure. From 1975 to 1985, Clemson had 45 top 25 teams, and in 1981, the Clemson football team claimed the National Championship with a win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl for Clemson’s first national championship in any sport.
Clemson also adopted the Tiger Paw as the official logo during his tenure.
McLellan left Clemson in 1986 to become Director of Athletics at Southern Mississippi. He remained there until his retirement in 1998, and moved back to Greenville in 1991 to be closer to his family.
In addition to the Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award he received in 1982, McLellan was also named to the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993, the Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
Memorials may be made to the Bill McLellan Memorial IPTAY Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.
