Merle Steven McClung

Merle Steven McClung was born in Clara City, Minnesota on June 30, 1943, the second of seven children born to his mother Martha and father Ernest. He said he won the lottery several times during his life, including scholarships to Harvard College, Harvard Law school, and a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford University in England. Basketball was his favorite sport, and he was inducted into the Montevideo high school and Harvard College Halls of Fame. Avoiding the Vietnam war draft, Merle taught English and social studies at the all black Miles College in Birmingham, Alabama during the racial and political unrest of the late 60’s—-which he called the best experience in his life due to friendships made. He played basketball until age 52, thinking he was staying fit, but actually breaking down his back that two spinal surgeries only made more painful.

Merle‘s career was divided between doing well as general counsel to two Colorado private corporations and doing good as an education law attorney. Merle‘s favorite maxim was “Man Plans, God Laughs,” emphasizing how chance rather than choice governs our lives. As an agnostic, he did not believe in “The Hand of God,” but was open to the remote possibility of a supernatural force with a sense of humor and irony. As a 10,000+ book collector, Merle‘s collection included books about books and the art of cover design. His publications included several books and many articles, culminating in founding the nonprofit corporation Make Our Democracy Work Enterprises (“MODWE”) and advocating “The Civic Standard” in public education. He never married or had any children.

Merle was preceded in death by his brother David McClung (Mellie), and brother Vern McClung (Vivian). He is survived by sister Sylvia Kokoschke (Art), sister Mavis Moberg (Randy), brother Dan McClung (Janet), brother Mark McClung (Jeannie), and many nephews and nieces.