Professional Football Player. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he played junior football with the Regina Dales before turning professional. As a defensive and offensive tackle, he played a total of fourteen professional seasons with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders (1951 to 1964). As a Roughrider, he was twice named to the CFL's Western All-Star Team, and twice nominated for MVP. After retiring from football in 1964, Clarke took up a second career as a public servant. He served as an Executive Director of Sport and Recreation for the Province of Saskatchewan beginning in 1966, and also served as the Deputy Minister of the Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation from 1982 to 1987. He also became an advocate for the Special Olympics and the United Way, and helped organize charity curling and golfing events to raise money for Parkinson's Disease research. For his achievements in sports he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the Roughriders' Plaza of Honour in 1988, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. His other awards include an honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina in 1995, and the Bill Clarke Scholarship which was created in his memory after his death. He died from complications of Parkinson's Disease.
Professional Football Player. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he played junior football with the Regina Dales before turning professional. As a defensive and offensive tackle, he played a total of fourteen professional seasons with the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders (1951 to 1964). As a Roughrider, he was twice named to the CFL's Western All-Star Team, and twice nominated for MVP. After retiring from football in 1964, Clarke took up a second career as a public servant. He served as an Executive Director of Sport and Recreation for the Province of Saskatchewan beginning in 1966, and also served as the Deputy Minister of the Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation from 1982 to 1987. He also became an advocate for the Special Olympics and the United Way, and helped organize charity curling and golfing events to raise money for Parkinson's Disease research. For his achievements in sports he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the Roughriders' Plaza of Honour in 1988, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. His other awards include an honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina in 1995, and the Bill Clarke Scholarship which was created in his memory after his death. He died from complications of Parkinson's Disease.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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