Marking more than 50 years of trailblazing leadership

Fred McClure is recognized for many “firsts” in his life.

In 1972, he became the first
African-American member to serve as president of Texas FFA. He was elected national FFA secretary the following year, making him the first Black national officer. After returning
to college after his year in service to National FFA, he became Texas A&M University’s first Black student body president during his senior year.

At the heart of it all, though, McClure is known for being a consummate leader and public servant.

His FFA experience, and not just his officer positions, helped prepare him for jobs in law, government affairs, higher education and other work throughout his profession. He has made a career of connecting people as a persuasive and steadfast figure in key places where big decisions are made.

After decades of being managing partner at top international law firms, serving as associate deputy U.S. attorney general, and being an advocate and legislative assistant to President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush, McClure is still leading. He now heads the community engagement team in the Office of the President of Texas A&M University, where he facilitates and cultivates relationships between the university and the
communities it serves.

“In the broad sense, being able to communicate came as a result of many of the opportunities I had in FFA,” said McClure. “Going back to high school, whether or not it was being involved in the parliamentary procedure contest or being an officer and running meetings and being persuasive — those kinds of things helped give me an opportunity to grow in that space.”

Though he didn’t pursue a long-term career in agriculture, the skills he learned and the connections he made while an FFA member have impacted McClure’s life and work. Many of the associations have continued and developed over the years and, as an alumnus, he stays connected to FFA.

“I’m grateful that FFA gave me an opportunity to communicate some messages while I was an officer, hopefully to help others,” McClure said. “Every now and then, somebody will come along and say, ‘You know, I remember when you came to my high school and spoke at our FFA banquet,’ and that’s a pretty cool thing.”

In October 2024, at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo, McClure and two of his fellow National FFA officers celebrated their 50-year reunion. He often participates in leadership training and regularly crosses paths with Texas FFA state officers on campus at Texas A&M.

McClure is also a regular contributor to support FFA financially.