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Joy of Medina County Magazine | December 2021
photos and story by Amy Barnes
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McClure said that he was chunky as a kid, so it was difficult to find clothes that would fit him. The only ver the nine years that Alan and Becky place his mother could find clothes for him was at McClure have lived on Nottingham Drive in Medina, Wooster’s Freedlander’s, which was much like they have become known in the neighborhood for Cleveland’s Higbee’s. helping others, no matter the trouble, said Becky It was on one such shopping trip that a 9-year-old McClure. McClure spotted a child’s kit to cast toy soldiers. He They even have rescued 23 cats who were either begged to have the kit. strays or were dumped in the neighborhood. On his 10th birthday, he was thrilled to find the kit “We’re just really good at catching cats,” said Becky was his. Marketed for use by children, the kit involved McClure, with a shrug. pouring hot lead into metal molds to make toy What is not as commonly known is that, at one soldiers. time, Alan McClure accidentally became the biggest McClure laughs about it now, looking back and worldwide manufacturer of Marine Corps figures, thinking about what kids were given as toys. something he did not plan when he was a kid playing Making his own toy soldiers to play with entranced with his plastic green Army men on the floor. McClure for awhile but he was an impatient child, he
