Mr. James “Frankie” McClendon age 77 of Albertville, passed away Sunday, November 29, 2020, at Shepherds Cove Hospice. A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 03, 2020, at 1:00 pm at Christ United Methodist Church in Albertville, the family will receive friends from 12:00 pm till the time of service, burial will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery. He is survived by his wife; Diane McClendon, daughter Carrie McClendon, sons; David Wright (Stephanie), Josh McClendon, sister; Cecilia Morrison, brother; Randy McClendon (Geneva), grandchildren; Mark, Paisley, Mianna, Payton, Skyleigh, Tommy, Zya, Everleigh. He was preceded in death by his parents; Lemuel & Nell McClendon, sister-in-law; Sheila Stevens, brother-in-law: Rodney Morrison, niece; Ashleigh Watwood, parents-in-law; Frank & Nita Stevens.
Frankie was inducted into the Charter Class of the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame. Frankie was a special player very early on as an eighth-grader. At Marshall County High School, he played varsity football five years and lettered five years. McClendon earned M.C.H.S. letters in baseball (four years), basketball (two years), and wrestling (one year). At the University of Alabama, McClendon was a three-year letterman including a starter on the 1964 National Championship football team. Frankie played in two Orange Bowls, one Sugar Bowl, and the 1965 Senior Bowl. His professional career included 1965 with the Minnesota Vikings and 1966 with the Atlanta Falcons. What about the 1964 Bama-LSU game with over 70,000 people, the largest number ever to see a football game in Alabama, packed in Birmingham’s Legion Field to watch a battle down to the wire? It was close all the way, but the Tide stove off two late LSU drives to clinch the game. Alabama’s defense held as Frankie McClendon batted down three Bengal passes, and the game ended 17-9. With the victory, the Crimson Tide clinched the SEC title. February 15, 1965, was officially proclaimed “Frankie McClendon Day” in the City of Guntersville. McClendon came home accompanied by his head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, along with several members of the Tide squad. The Gadsden Times selected Frankie on its “Players of the Century” list
