Early Years
Clarke attended Beloit Memorial High School where he was an all-state football player. He later became the first African-American varsity football player at the University of Colorado at Boulder (also the first to letter), joining the Buffaloes in September 1954, after attending Trinidad State Junior College (Colo.) for two years, where he had a brilliant career (he had to sit out the 1954 season after transferring).
He was joined by John Wooten the following year. Because this was before the civil rights movement, the pair often had to endure open racism outside of Boulder.
Clarke amassed 532 yards receiving, ending his career fifth at the time in receiving yards at Colorado. He was so well liked among his peers on campus, that he was chosen as King of the annual CU Days festival (CU's equivalent of Homecoming King).
He was an honorable mention All-Big 7 conference performer as a junior, when he was second in the league in receiving. As a senior he was selected to play in the Copper Bowl All-Star Game.
In 2008, Clarke was inducted into the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: Franklin Clarke
Famous quotes related to early years:
“If there is a price to pay for the privilege of spending the early years of child rearing in the driver’s seat, it is our reluctance, our inability, to tolerate being demoted to the backseat. Spurred by our success in programming our children during the preschool years, we may find it difficult to forgo in later states the level of control that once afforded us so much satisfaction.”
—Melinda M. Marshall (20th century)
“Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children don’t need parents’ full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)