Dorothy McClendon

McClenden was born in Minden, Louisiana in 1924[1] She moved from Minden to Detroit, Michigan wit her mother and older sister Melba. With her mother's encouragement, McClendon applied and was accepted to the competitive Cass Technical High School.[2] She then attended A & I State University in Tennessee, where she earned a BSc in biology in 1948.[1] She original planned to pursue a medical career, but became interested in microbiology.[2] At Tennessee A&I, McClendon held leadership roles in the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Sunday School Cabinet.[2] After post-graduate study at universities including Purdue, Wayne State, and the University of Detroit,[1] she briefly taught in public schools in Phoenix, Arizona and Eldorado, Arkansas.

McClenden joined TACOM in the 1952.[2] During her long career, she focused on developing methods to protect stored goods, notably fuel, from degradation due to biological agents.[3][1] She retired in 1984.[2]

McClendon never married.[2] She volunteered with youth ministries, Sunday schools, and scholarship programs through local Christian schools and organizations.[2]