E. B. McClain
Edward Browning "E. B." McClain (born April 29, 1940 in Bessemer; died November 9, 2020 in Pleasant Gove) was a four-term state senator who was convicted in 2009 of multiple counts of bribery.
McClain earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Miles College.
McClain was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1986 and served two four-year terms. In 1994 he won the race to represent District 19 in the State Senate. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Montevallo.
On May 29, 2008, McClain was named in a 50-count indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering, and bribery involving the Heritage to Hope Foundation operated by Birmingham minister Samuel Pettagrue. The defendants were convicted on 48 counts on January 21, 2009, after which McClain announced he would vacate his Senate seat. He was sentenced to serve 5 years and 10 months in federal prison, beginning June 30. He was released in 2015. He also faced state charges, and served one year of probation.
McClain was married to the former Eloise Sanders of Bessemer, and they had four children.
| Preceded by: Jeff Underwood |
Alabama State Senator, District 19 1995 - 2009 |
Succeeded by: Priscilla Dunn |
References
- Blackledge, Brett (May 29, 2008) "State Sen. E.B. McClain indicted by federal grand jury." The Birmingham News
- Gordon, Robert K. (January 21, 2009) "Birmingham jury needs only day to convict state Sen. E.B. McClain, Rev. Samuel Pettagrue on 48 counts." The Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (November 10, 2020) "Former Alabama Sen. E. B. McClain dead at 80." The Birmingham News