Nathan Clark Jr. (February 28, 1933 – February 9, 2005) was an American footballhalfback who played college football at Hillsdale College from 1953 to 1956. He led Hillsdale to consecutive undefeated seasons in 1955 and 1956 and was selected as a first-team back on the Little All-America teams in both years. He also led the country in scoring with 144 points scored in 1955.
He excelled in sports and appeared in every football game for Benton Harbor High School from 1949 to 1952.[2] He was twice selected as an all-state player.[3] He was also a Golden Gloves champion of Michigan.[4] He compiled a 42–2 record as a boxer.[5]
Hillsdale Collegeedit
Clark enrolled at Hillsdale College in the fall of 1953. He was the scoring leader for Hillsdale in 1953 with six touchdowns and one extra point in seven games played.[6] As a sophomore in 1954, he was the top scorer in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.[7]
In 1955, Clark rushed for 949 yards and led all of college football with 144 points (24 touchdowns) scored in nine games played.[8][9] His 144 points led small college football by 36 points over the second-highest scorer.[10] It was also the highest point total scored by a football player in Michigan since Willie Heston in the early 1900s.[11] At the end of the season, he was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team back on the 1955 Little All-America college football team.[8][12]
The 1955 Hillsdale team was invited to play in the 1956 Tangerine Bowl, but the players unanimously decided to decline the invitation after bowl officials advised that Hillsdale's four black players (Clark included) would not be allowed to play.[9][13] Clark later recalled: "I felt bad for the team because it deprived them of the opportunity to play in the bowl, but I was proud of the guys who made the decision because we couldn’t go as a team."[13]
Clark was chosen as co-captain of the 1956 Hillsdale team.[14] With defenses focusing on Clark, his scoring declined, but the extra coverage focused on Clark opened up room for other backs, and Hillsdale coach Muddy Waters opined that Clark played "the best of his four seasons" in 1956.[15] He helped lead Hillsdale to its second consecutive undefeated season and was again included on the first team of the Little All-America team.[16]
Family and later yearsedit
Clark was married in 1956 to his high school sweetheart, Lucille Butler.[17][18] They had four children.[9]
In June 1957, Clark received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Hillsdale.[19] He attended camp with the Green Bay Packers, but he hurt his knee and was cut in August 1957.[17][20]
He also returned to boxing in 1957.[21] Clark and his family moved to Detroit in 1969, where he worked for a construction company.[17][22] He was inducted into Hillsdale's athletic hall of fame in 1998.[23]
Clark suffered from diabetes in his later years. He died in 2005 at age 71.[9]
Referencesedit
^Jim Shanahan (October 28, 1955). "Sports Eye-Lites". The Herald-Palladium. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Sports Eye-Lites". The Herald-Palladium. November 29, 1952. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark Scores With Legislators". The Herald-Palladium. November 8, 1955. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark On His Way To 2nd State Glove Title". The Herald-Press. January 30, 1953. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
^Jim Benagh (September 23, 1976). "Podoley, Clark Still Grid Greats (part 1)". Detroit Free Press. p. 1F – via Newspapers.com.
^"Chips' Miller Rushing into Little All-America Picture". Detroit Free Press. November 10, 1953 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark Top Scorer In MIAA". The News-Palladium. November 12, 1954. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Nation's Leading Scorer Makes Little All-America". Bergen Evening Record. December 1, 1955. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcd"Hillsdale great Clark dead". Detroit Free Press. February 12, 2005. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark Wins Grid Point Title". Battle Creek Enquirer. December 11, 1955 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Did Nate Clark Outscore Heston?". The Herald-Palladium. November 15, 1955. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark On 'Little' All-America". Lansing State Journal. December 6, 1956. p. 69 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abJacky Eubanks (April 9, 2019). "A Brief History of Hillsdale, Part 2: The Twentieth Century". Hillsdale College. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^"Nate Clark Named Hillsdale Co-Captain For '56". The Herald-Press. December 14, 1955 – via Newspapers.com.
^Marshall Dann (November 6, 1956). "'Decoy" Nate Clark Worth More to Hillsdale". Detroit Free Press. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
^Bob Hoobing (December 6, 1956). "Little All-American Headed By Runners". The Knoxville Journal. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abc"Coming Home". The Herald-Palladium. July 23, 2000.
^"Nate Clark Marries". The Holland Evening Sentinel. February 4, 1956. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark And Gordon Mallett Get Hillsdale Degrees". The Herald-Press. June 7, 1957. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Ask Waivers On Nate Clark". The Herald-Palladium. August 15, 1957. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark Wins On KO". The Herald Press. February 8, 1957 – via Newspapers.com.
^Jim Benagh (September 23, 1976). "Podoley, Clark Still Grid Greats After 20 Years (part 2)". Detroit Free Press. p. 5F – via Newspapers.com.
^"Nate Clark '57". Hillsdale College. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
Additional readingedit
Nate Clark Piles Up TDs, Steak Dinners, October 25, 1955
April 15, 2024
nate, clark, nathan, clark, february, 1933, february, 2005, american, football, halfback, played, college, football, hillsdale, college, from, 1953, 1956, hillsdale, consecutive, undefeated, seasons, 1955, 1956, selected, first, team, back, little, america, te. Nathan Clark Jr February 28 1933 February 9 2005 was an American football halfback who played college football at Hillsdale College from 1953 to 1956 He led Hillsdale to consecutive undefeated seasons in 1955 and 1956 and was selected as a first team back on the Little All America teams in both years He also led the country in scoring with 144 points scored in 1955 Nate ClarkNate Clark 1955Hillsdale ChargersPositionHalfbackClassGraduatePersonal informationBorn 1933 02 28 February 28 1933Hawkinsville GeorgiaDied February 5 2005 2005 02 05 aged 71 Height5 ft 8 in 1 73 m Weight195 lb 88 kg Career historyCollegeHillsdale 1953 1956 Career highlights and awards2 First team Little All American 1955 1956 NCAA scoring leader 1955 Contents 1 Early years 2 Hillsdale College 3 Family and later years 4 References 5 Additional readingEarly years editClark was born in Hawkinsville Georgia and raised in Benton Harbor Michigan He overcame a speech impediment 1 He excelled in sports and appeared in every football game for Benton Harbor High School from 1949 to 1952 2 He was twice selected as an all state player 3 He was also a Golden Gloves champion of Michigan 4 He compiled a 42 2 record as a boxer 5 Hillsdale College editClark enrolled at Hillsdale College in the fall of 1953 He was the scoring leader for Hillsdale in 1953 with six touchdowns and one extra point in seven games played 6 As a sophomore in 1954 he was the top scorer in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association 7 In 1955 Clark rushed for 949 yards and led all of college football with 144 points 24 touchdowns scored in nine games played 8 9 His 144 points led small college football by 36 points over the second highest scorer 10 It was also the highest point total scored by a football player in Michigan since Willie Heston in the early 1900s 11 At the end of the season he was selected by the Associated Press as a first team back on the 1955 Little All America college football team 8 12 The 1955 Hillsdale team was invited to play in the 1956 Tangerine Bowl but the players unanimously decided to decline the invitation after bowl officials advised that Hillsdale s four black players Clark included would not be allowed to play 9 13 Clark later recalled I felt bad for the team because it deprived them of the opportunity to play in the bowl but I was proud of the guys who made the decision because we couldn t go as a team 13 Clark was chosen as co captain of the 1956 Hillsdale team 14 With defenses focusing on Clark his scoring declined but the extra coverage focused on Clark opened up room for other backs and Hillsdale coach Muddy Waters opined that Clark played the best of his four seasons in 1956 15 He helped lead Hillsdale to its second consecutive undefeated season and was again included on the first team of the Little All America team 16 Family and later years editClark was married in 1956 to his high school sweetheart Lucille Butler 17 18 They had four children 9 In June 1957 Clark received his bachelor s degree in physical education from Hillsdale 19 He attended camp with the Green Bay Packers but he hurt his knee and was cut in August 1957 17 20 He also returned to boxing in 1957 21 Clark and his family moved to Detroit in 1969 where he worked for a construction company 17 22 He was inducted into Hillsdale s athletic hall of fame in 1998 23 Clark suffered from diabetes in his later years He died in 2005 at age 71 9 References edit Jim Shanahan October 28 1955 Sports Eye Lites The Herald Palladium p 14 via Newspapers com Sports Eye Lites The Herald Palladium November 29 1952 p 8 via Newspapers com Nate Clark Scores With Legislators The Herald Palladium November 8 1955 p 1 via Newspapers com Nate Clark On His Way To 2nd State Glove Title The Herald Press January 30 1953 p 11 via Newspapers com Jim Benagh September 23 1976 Podoley Clark Still Grid Greats part 1 Detroit Free Press p 1F via Newspapers com Chips Miller Rushing into Little All America Picture Detroit Free Press November 10 1953 via Newspapers com Nate Clark Top Scorer In MIAA The News Palladium November 12 1954 p 17 via Newspapers com a b Nation s Leading Scorer Makes Little All America Bergen Evening Record December 1 1955 p 43 via Newspapers com a b c d Hillsdale great Clark dead Detroit Free Press February 12 2005 p 2B via Newspapers com Nate Clark Wins Grid Point Title Battle Creek Enquirer December 11 1955 via Newspapers com Did Nate Clark Outscore Heston The Herald Palladium November 15 1955 p II 2 via Newspapers com Nate Clark On Little All America Lansing State Journal December 6 1956 p 69 via Newspapers com a b Jacky Eubanks April 9 2019 A Brief History of Hillsdale Part 2 The Twentieth Century Hillsdale College Retrieved November 11 2021 Nate Clark Named Hillsdale Co Captain For 56 The Herald Press December 14 1955 via Newspapers com Marshall Dann November 6 1956 Decoy Nate Clark Worth More to Hillsdale Detroit Free Press p 23 via Newspapers com Bob Hoobing December 6 1956 Little All American Headed By Runners The Knoxville Journal p 15 via Newspapers com a b c Coming Home The Herald Palladium July 23 2000 Nate Clark Marries The Holland Evening Sentinel February 4 1956 p 6 via Newspapers com Nate Clark And Gordon Mallett Get Hillsdale Degrees The Herald Press June 7 1957 p 10 via Newspapers com Ask Waivers On Nate Clark The Herald Palladium August 15 1957 p 17 via Newspapers com Nate Clark Wins On KO The Herald Press February 8 1957 via Newspapers com Jim Benagh September 23 1976 Podoley Clark Still Grid Greats After 20 Years part 2 Detroit Free Press p 5F via Newspapers com Nate Clark 57 Hillsdale College Retrieved November 11 2021 Additional reading editNate Clark Piles Up TDs Steak Dinners October 25 1955 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nate Clark amp oldid 1196087297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
