Clarence J. Walker (September 23, 1928 – June 10, 1989) was an American

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

player and, later, a high school teacher, counselor and administrator. He was also a long-time tennis instructor at a number of clubs in Chicago and its Indiana suburbs. In 1948, he was the first African-American collegiate basketball player to appear in a post-season tournament. He would participate in three post-season tournaments, winning a National Title in 1950.

High school career

Clarence Walker attended Washington High School in

East Chicago East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census. The city is home of the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, an artificial freshwater harbor characterized by industrial and manufacturing act ...

, Indiana where he played for Johnnie Baratto. In 1946, his senior year, he and Ray Ragelis led the Senators to record of 24-3 winning both a Sectional title and a Regional Championship (Final Sixteen) in the IHSAA State Tournament; they bowed out of the tournament, falling to Culver High School by two points, in the Semi-State. He was also a teammate of

Vince Boryla Vincent Joseph Boryla (March 11, 1927 – March 27, 2016) was an American basketball player, coach and executive. His nickname was "Moose". He graduated from East Chicago Washington High School in 1944. He played basketball at the University of N ...

College career

After high school, Walker attended

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified among "D/PU: Doctor ...

, located in

Terre Haute, Indiana Terre Haute ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a ...

. He played basketball under head coach John Wooden (1946-47 & 1947-48) and John Longfellow (1948-49 & 1949-50). In 1947, Indiana State refused a NAIB tournament invitation since the tournament did not allow black players to participate, and the team did not want to participate without Walker. The NAIB changed their rules for the 1948 season and Walker's Sycamores made it to the tournament's final, losing to Louisville. Walker helped lead the Sycamores to three consecutive IIC Championships and three NAIB (now NAIA) Tournaments. His Indiana State teams recorded a cumulative record of 95-31 (.754); a 30-4 (.882) in IIC play, including 4 conference titles, the 1950 NAIB National Title; the 1948 NAIB National Title-game and the 1949 NAIB National Title-final four during their four seasons of varsity play.

Post-college

Walker served in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

and was a veteran of Korean War; he was wounded, awarded the

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It is awarded to every member of the US Armed Forces who has served during any one of four sp ...

Korean Service Medal The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is a military award for service in the United States Armed Forces and was established November 8, 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary US military award for se ...

and the

United Nations Korea Medal The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (UNKM) is an international military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal. The decoration was the first international award ever created by t ...

. He returned to in his hometown and embarked on a successful high school teaching career, spending 35 years with the East Chicago City Schools, retiring as an Assistant Superintendent. He was a tennis instructor at a number of clubs and fitness centers in and around Chicago. In November, 2021; Walker's induction as part of the 60th Class of the

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. While it honors men and women associated with high school, college, and professional basketball in Indiana, an emphasis is placed on the athlete's high ...

was announced.

References

1928 births 1989 deaths Basketball players from Indiana Guards (basketball) Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball players Sportspeople from East Chicago, Indiana American men's basketball players United States Army personnel of the Korean War Educators from Indiana {{1920s-US-basketball-bio-stub