In 1917, at the age of 10 years old, Earl “Dutch” Clark moved to Pueblo, Colorado with his family. He grew up in the South Side of Pueblo and attended Carlile Elementary. At age 12, Dutch, who was given the nickname “Dutch” by his family as a young child, was already working at the rail yard while attending school. Dutch had to manage his time and focus while making the most of his days. In 1922, as a skinny freshman with exhausting family responsibilities and expectations, Dutch began his high school career at Pueblo Central High.
Quickly, Dutch’s athletic abilities and sharp-minded thinking began to show on the football field. As a sophomore, he would move on to play full back and his talents began to stand out and gameplay gained the admiration of Pueblo. Not only was Dutch a brilliant athlete, he was also a well-liked student and friend to his classmates. He would go on to become the senior class president and amass a total of 16 letters for this letter jacket. Dutch had to endure struggles and tragedies, that tempted him to quit school. Overcoming hardships and physical impediments, he made Pueblo proud by bringing athletic acclaim to our Southern Colorado city.
Dutch would later go on to attend and graduate from the prestigious Colorado College in Colorado Springs. He continued to make headlines with his football play and was later drafted to play professional football with the Portsmouth Spartans, which went on to become the Detroit Lions in 1934. As number 7, Dutch Clark played quarterback, half back, kicker, safety and and called the plays. He set many NFL and Lions records as a player and would ultimately become inducted in the first class of the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Earl “Dutch” Clark would later take on many more challenges in life and would prove to Pueblo that with initiative and focus, you can indeed embrace your future, and change the world.
Dutch Clark is the spirit of Pueblo.
Reference: "Dutch Clark" by Chris Willis (2012)
