Frank Clarke (American football)
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| Position: | Wide receiver Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 7, 1934 Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | July 25, 2018 (aged 84) McKinney, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Beloit Memorial (WI) | ||||||||
| College: | Colorado | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1956 / Round: 5 / Pick: 61 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Franklin Clarke (February 7, 1934 – July 25, 2018) was an
Early years
Clarke was named after
After attending
As a junior, he was an honorable-mention All-Big 7 conference performer, when he was second in the league with 407 receiving yards, during a run-oriented era. He also returned kickoffs, while leading the team with 13 receptions and 5 receiving touchdowns.
As a senior, he led the team with 7 receptions for 124 yards and 2 receiving
Clarke amassed 20 receptions for 532 yards (26.6 yard average), 7 receiving
In 2008, he was inducted into the Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Cleveland Browns
Clarke was selected by the
Dallas Cowboys
Clarke was selected by the
He moved into the starting role in
He turned out to be the Cowboys' first bona fide long-ball threat—before "Bullet" Bob Hayes joined him. Hayes even credits Clarke for teaching him the proper way to catch "the bomb"—the long pass. He is also credited as the first African American star athlete, on a Cowboys that played in a then racially divided Dallas.
In
In 1964, he caught 65 passes (franchise record) for 973 yards, 5 touchdowns and received All-Pro honors.[7]
In 1965, he was moved to tight end and was second on the team with 41 receptions for 682 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 1965, he was a backup to Pettis Norman, but remained productive and became a clutch third down receiver, recording 26 receptions for 355 and 4 touchdowns. The next year, his production fell to 9 receptions for 119 yards. He announced his retirement on July 17, 1968.
Clarke led the Cowboys in yards and touchdowns from 1961 to 1964, and catches in 1963 and 1964. He held the franchise record for most touchdowns in a season by a receiver with 14 from his 1962 season, which stood for 45 years until 2007, when it was broken by Terrell Owens. He also had the team record for the most career receiving multi-touchdown games with 9, until it was broken by Dez Bryant in 2014.
He retired after the
Broadcasting
Clarke began his career as a sportscaster for
Personal life
Clarke died on July 25, 2018, at the age of 84.[4]
He was Catholic, raised in the faith and passing it down to his children.[8]
His nephew is former sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee.[9]
References
- ^ "Frank Clarke – CU Athletic Hall of Fame". University of Colorado. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Buffs Hall Of Famer Frank Clarke Passes Away". University of Colorado. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Frank Clarke Gains Notice For Catching". The Sumter Daily Item. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ a b "Former receiver Frank Clarke, a member of the original Cowboys team of 1960, dies at 84". Dallas News. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Best Opening Game Performances, 1933–2017". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Steelers In Dallas For Final Tune Up". Beaver County Times. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "Owens, Ware, Witten make All-Pro". ESN. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ Hairopoulos, Kate (July 26, 2018). "Former receiver Frank Clarke, a member of the original Cowboys team of 1960, dies at 84". Dallas News. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ Chandler, Kurt (July 25, 2003). "The New Black Power: A Profile of Sheriff David Clarke". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2021.