This week in Southeast Colorado history.
Earl ‘Dutch’ Clark was born in Fowler on October 11, 1906.
Earl “Dutch” Clark was born on October 11, 1906, in Fowler, Colorado. He became a standout athlete, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, and track at Colorado College. In 1928, he rushed for 1,349 yards and earned All-American honors, the first player from Colorado to do so. He played professionally for the Portsmouth Spartans and Detroit Lions from 1931 to 1938. He led the Lions to a 1935 championship and earned six All-Pro selections. Clark later coached at multiple schools and professional teams. He was inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame in their inaugural classes. In 1940, he was named the best football player of the 1930s. Pueblo honored him by renaming its stadium “Dutch Clark Stadium” in 1980. His legacy as a pioneer in football remains strong. He passed away on August 5, 1978, in Canon City, Colorado.