McMillan Lane of Montgomery was born December 14, 1916, in Little Rock, Dillon County, South Carolina, son of Steven D. and Sarah Elizabeth (Bessie McMillan) Lane. He attended Dillon County public schools and graduated with a B.S. degree in Vocational Agricultural Education in 1938 from Clemson University, South Carolina. After teaching Vocational Agriculture in Conway, South Carolina, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 1941-1946, and in the U.S. Air Force, 1951-1954. In private enterprise he worked with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Montgomery, 1946-1951, and owned and operated Brunson Milling Company, Montgomery, 1964-1970.

Mr. Lane was appointed Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Industries, February 5, 1973, and appointed by Governor George C. Wallace Commissioner of the Department at the death of Marion Donald (Pete) Gilmer, January 23, 1974. He was elected November 5, 1974 to a full term and re-elected November 7, 1978 to his current term in office. He is a Democrat and a Presbyterian.

Married to the former Jean Nesbitt (Bellingrath) Albritton, November 14, 1945; children: John Norman Albritton, Jean Albritton Chapman, Mary Jane Ellison, and Dorothy Lane Arrington.

Authorities:
Alabama Department of Archives and History, Official and Statistical Register, 1979, 33.