By Deborah Larsen
Rayburn Rowland McGee
Rayburn Rowland McGee was born in Cowden, Illinois, on December 8, 1924, the son of Clinton and Eva Hudson McGee. The McGee family moved to Rochester, Michigan, when Rayburn was a small child. He attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1943. Rayburn was a student athlete in football, baseball, and basketball, and expressed an ambition to play professional baseball.
Immediately after high school, in June 1943, Rayburn entered the U.S. Navy. After training, he was assigned to naval bases at San Diego and Hawaii. Rayburn was discharged from military service in May 1946.
After the war, Rayburn married and started a family. He moved to Iowa, where he was employed at Davenport Alcoa Works for 32 years.
Rayburn Rowland McGee died at age 65 on May 29, 1990, and was laid to rest in Rock Island National Cemetery, Illinois.