[4] While in college, McLain was a member of Theta Chi, president of the class of 1937, and played basketball, football, lacrosse, and track.

During World War II, McLain paused his education to serve as a major in the US Army Chemical Corps doing research on smoke screens and pyrotechnics.

While he was a professor, McLain was a partner in the Kent Manufacturing Company, which made fireworks, until there was an explosion at the plant in 1954.

[7] In addition to his pyrotechnic research, McLain was active in environmental work, serving as a trustee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and sitting on Maryland Water Pollution Control Commission.

[8][9] McLain took a leave of absence from the college in 1981 and died in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Hospital the same year.