Biography

McLain High School for Science and Technology is named for a native Oklahoman, Raymond Stallings McLain. During his career in the service of his country, General McLain achieved many firsts.  He was the first National Guard officer to be honored with a presidential nomination as a permanent Brigadier General, and the first National Guard officer to attain the rank of Lieutenant General.  Later, he was given the permanent rank of Major General.

While addressing a group of officers, General George Patton said of General McLain, "Here's a man to whom I can give the impossible task and know it will be done." When General McLain died, he left a remarkable career as a military leader behind him.  He was a self-educated man, for his formal education ended with the sixth grade, but his ambition motivated him to use his talents to their fullest extent, and he became a man among men whose name and deeds will live forever.

Relatives, descendants, and friends of McLain have attended school assemblies that have honored him.  After graduating 50 years of accomplished students, the school now serves the community as a science and technology center.  

School History

McLain High School for Science and Technology was opened at its current location on North Peoria Avenue in 1959, making it, then and now, the northernmost high school in the Tulsa Public Schools district. McLain High graduated its first class of seniors in 1961. The school's teams competed for several decades under the colors maroon and white and the name "Scots," a nod to General McLain's heritage. The school's yearbook was known as The Highlander. 

In 2001, McLain High School (then operating under the name McLain Career Academy) was rebranded as the Tulsa School of Science and Technology (TSST), with students voting to change the mascot from Scots to Titans. This change was targeted at improving McLain's academic performance. In later years, TSST would revert to its original name, becoming McLain Magnet High School for Science and Technology, but keeping the Titan mascot and using maroon, white, silver, and black as school colors.