Born in Paisley, Archie McLean came to Brazil for Linhas (now Coats Corrente) in 1912. Expecting to stay for a period of 6 months, he finally returned to Scotland on his retiral in 1949.

An all-round sportsman, Archie played top class football in that game's infancy in Brazil, for which country's international selection he was chosen on at least one occasion. As a result Archie McLean’s name, because of his fleetness of foot, he was known professionally as “O Veadinho” (the little deer) - is revered in Brazilian sporting circles, and on one memorable occasion, when he was making a sentimental return visit to Brazil in 1966, this talented Scot received a standing ovation from the large crowd of spectators attending a game at Pacaembu stadium.

He was just as successful in his other sporting activities, being several times bowls champion of both his Brazilian and Scottish clubs. Record holder of the Quaich, he won it 4 times. His final love was golf, which he was still practising almost daily at the Elderslie course, near Paisley, until his death, at the age of 84, in 1971. The Society's eighteenth President in 1941, Archie remained in office on account of the second WorId War until 1949. In addition to being a Founding Member, he served as a Committee member in 1928 and 1931 and was Vice-President of the Society in 1939 and 1940. To Archie fell the honour of chairing the first post-second World War Banquet in 1945, while on 16th March 1949 he also presided at the meeting held to re-start the Society. A keen Freemason, he was Past Master of the Centenary Lodge. His two sons were members of the Society and, indeed, Robert, the younger, became not only the first Brazilian born President of our Society but also the first son of a past President to be elected to this office.

Archie McLean had a vast circle of friends and acquaintances and perhaps he can best be described in a phrase contained in a letter about Archie received from one of our overseas correspondents... “he was a most loveable Scot”.