Robert B. McClean Biography

Robert B. McClean was born on March 17, 1923 in Wilton, Iowa and died on June 20, 2008. He was born in Grandma Barclay’s house (thus his second name) and was one of 13 children. Bob enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps at the age of 19 in World War II. He served in the 4th Division on Iwo Jima and Saipan. Bob was on Iwo Jima when the flag was raised and was a very proud marine. Bob married in 1945 and his wife died in 1995. Bob has three daughters and seven grandsons. Bob and Norma were married December 27, 1999.

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America, Inc. was founded in 1954 by a small group of enthusiastic antique motorcycle owners. Collecting and restoring vintage motorcycles was a favorite pastime for Bob. Bob’s passion for two wheeled machines was fulfilled in the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. He joined the Chief Blackhawk Chapter, Davenport, Iowa, in 1970. His first board meeting was on July 11, 1976. Bob was elected treasurer on November 6, 1976; vice president on November 7, 1981 and president on November 5, 1983 through December 31, 2002. During his term as president, he assumed the duties of newsletter editor of the The Antique Motorcycle magazine in the summer of September 1986 through February 1990 until this position could be filled.

On September 1, 1990, Bob received the Antique Motorcycle Club of America National Recognition Award. This award recognizes an AMCA member who has greatly contributed to the organization over a ten year period. The plaque read “In recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions while serving as National Treasurer, Vice President, Magazine Editor and President of the AMCA.”

On July 8, 2000, a milestone was reached when Bob McClean officially opened the AMCA’s R. B. McClean Gallery at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. Bob donated his machines for display: 1911 Excelsior Single and 1922 Harley-Davidson Sport Model. Bob was a 10 year board of trustee member for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation in Pickerington, Ohio.

Bob McClean was approved for Honorary Membership in the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, Inc. on February 27, 2003.

In the spring of 1997, the Guggenheim Museum presented “The Art of the Motorcycle” exhibition which set attendance records in New York. This exhibition opened in Chicago November 7, 1998 through March 21, 1999 and later in Bilbao, Spain. Bob McClean donated his 1977 Harley-Davidson XLCR for the Guggenheim exhibition (in Chicago, Bilbao and Las Vegas).

Bob collected a wide range of antique motorcycles including 1930 Velocette racer, 1917 Triumph belt drive, 1930 Matchless Silver Hawk, 1919 Reading standard with side car, 1918 Harley-Davidson with side car, 1913 Indian, 1925 Excelsior Super X, 1913 Schickel and his favorite road run machine “Old Blue,” a 1934 VLD Harley-Davidson.

Bob had a strong devotion toward antique motorcycles. He was a loyal enthusiast who enjoyed riding. He rode motorcycles at road runs in Europe, South Africa and nearly all of the earlier AMCA “D-J” runs. Bob McClean stressed the importance of involvement both in the sport and in the people who enjoy it so much. Bob McClean will be missed by many.