Bill Clarke (football player)
Encyclopedia
Norman Edwin William "Bill" Clarke (November 25, 1932 – December 20, 2000) was a professional Canadian football
player who played both defensive tackle and offensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
from 1951 through 1964.
with the Regina Dales (later to become the Regina Rams
) before turning professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1951.
'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
.
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
.
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
bonspiel
s and golf
tournaments to raise money for Parkinson's disease
research, a disease with which he was afflicted.
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.
He died December 20, 2000, in Regina, from Parkinson's disease.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player who played both defensive tackle and offensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
from 1951 through 1964.
Early years
Bill Clarke was born in Regina on November 25, 1932, to parents G.W.R. (Bill) and Ruth L. Clarke. He played junior footballCanadian Junior Football League
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
with the Regina Dales (later to become the Regina Rams
Regina Rams
The Regina Rams are the CIS football team that represents the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Rams nickname is used by the university's football team only; all other teams at the school are named Regina Cougars...
) before turning professional with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1951.
Professional career
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 ConferenceCanadian Football League West Division
The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League. Although the CFL was not founded until 1958, the West Division and its clubs are descended from earlier leagues.-Pre-1936:...
'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
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
.
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
1964 CFL season
The 1964 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 7th Canadian Football League season.-Final regular season standings:...
.
Post-football
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 MinisterDeputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the 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
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
. As an advocate for the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
and the United Way
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
, he also organised charity curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
bonspiel
Bonspiel
A bonspiel is a curling tournament, traditionally held outdoors on a frozen freshwater loch. The word comes from the Scottish Gaelic and means league match . Though not mandatory, curling teams involved in bonspiels often wear theme costumes...
s and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournaments to raise money for Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
research, a disease with which he was afflicted.
Clarke was admitted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 1996. He received an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
in 1995.
He died December 20, 2000, in Regina, from Parkinson's disease.