Stu Clarkson — Grit, Service, and a Championship Legacy

Stu Clarkson’s story began in Corpus Christi and reached the highest levels of football and military service. A two-time Little All-American at Texas A&I, he later became a linebacker for the Chicago Bears and helped secure the 1946 World Championship. After landing at Utah Beach on D-Day as a World War II veteran, Clarkson returned to football as a coach. His life remains rooted in courage, leadership, and Coastal Bend pride.

Legacy

Toughness shaped Clarkson’s work in every arena: football, military service, and coaching.

A native of Corpus Christi, Clarkson made his mark at Texas A&I, where he earned Little All-American honors. He was selected in the 1942 NFL Draft and went on to play linebacker for the Chicago Bears, contributing to the team’s 1946 World Championship season during an especially hard-hitting period in professional football.

During the years between his playing career, Clarkson served in the United States Army during World War II. He landed at Utah Beach on D-Day as part of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Following his professional football career, Clarkson returned to coaching and continued influencing young athletes until his passing on the sidelines in 1957. His legacy carries forward through courage, dedication, and enduring Coastal Bend pride.

Quick Facts

• Sport: Football
• Coastal Bend Connection: Corpus Christi native
• College: Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville)
• Born: July 4, 1919
• Died: October 25, 1957

Career & Service Highlights

• Linebacker, Chicago Bears (1942–1951)
• NFL World Champion (1946)
• Two-Time Little All-American (Texas A&I)
• Served in U.S. Army during World War II
• Texas A&M–Kingsville Football Hall of Fame
• Named to Texas A&M–Kingsville Team of the Century