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Bill Clarke (Canadian football)

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Bill Clarke
No. 60
Born:November 25, 1932 (1932-11-25)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died:December 20, 2000 (2000-12-21) (aged 68)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)DT, OT
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight235 lb (107 kg)
Junior teamRegina Dales
Career history
As player
1951–1964Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards
CFL West All-Star1961, 1963
Awards2× Stack Tibitts Trophy (1959, 1961)
Honours
Career stats

Norman Edwin William Clarke (November 25, 1932 – December 20, 2000) was a Canadian professional football player who played both defensive tackle and offensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1951 through 1964. Clarke also was a curler, and won the inaugural Canadian schoolboy championships for Saskatchewan in 1950.[1]

Early life

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Bill Clarke was born in Regina on November 25, 1932, to parents G.W.R. (Bill) and Ruth L. Clarke. He played junior football with the Regina Dales (later to become the Regina Rams) before turning professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1951.[2][3]

Professional career

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Clarke became one of the longest-serving members of the Roughriders, playing 14 seasons as both an offensive and defensive tackle, including 8 seasons serving as the captain of the defence squad. He was awarded the Stack Tibitts Trophy as the Roughriders most valuable Canadian in 1959 and 1961 and was named to the Western Football Conference's All-Star team as a defensive tackle in 1961 and 1963. The 1963 Riders defence was notable for playing five games without yielding a touchdown.[4][5]

Clarke's longtime dedication to the club was honoured with a life membership in 1963 and he was inducted into the Roughriders' Plaza of Honour in 1988. He retired from play following the 1964 CFL season.[4]

Post-football

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After football, Clarke began a career as a public servant. In 1966, he was executive director of Sport and Recreation for Saskatchewan and from 1982 to 1987, he served as Deputy Minister of what is now the Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation. In addition, he was a member of numerous boards and committees including the Saskatchewan Games Council, the Canada Games Council, and Hockey Canada. As an advocate for the Special Olympics and the United Way, he also organised charity curling bonspiels and golf tournaments to raise money for Parkinson's disease research, a disease with which he was afflicted.[3]

Clarke was admitted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina in 1995.[4]

He died December 20, 2000, in Regina, from Parkinson's disease.[2][6]

References

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  1. ^ Scholz, Guy (2024-08-03). "The Granite Gridiron Province". Sports Illustrated. The Curling News. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  2. ^ a b "CLARKE, N. E. William (Bill)". Obituary. Regina Leader-Post. 2000-12-21. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  3. ^ a b Coneghan, Daria & Stoffel, Holden. "Clarke, Bill (1932-2000)". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. University of Regina and Canadian Plains Research Center. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  4. ^ a b c "Bill Clarke". Hall of Famers. Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  5. ^ Canadian Football League 2007 Facts, Figures & Records. Canadian Football League. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-9739425-2-1.
  6. ^ Hughes, Bob (2007-04-03). "Fundraiser for Parkinson's research is simply fantastic". The Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
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