:Clyde Conner
{{Short description|American football player (1933–2011)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image = Conner-Clyde-1961.jpg
|caption = Conner in 1961
|name = Clyde Conner
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|05|18}}
|birth_place = Tuttle, Oklahoma, U.S.
|death_date ={{Death date and age|2011|12|12|1933|05|18}}
|death_place = Los Altos, California, U.S.
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 2
|weight_lbs = 193
|number = 86, 88
|position = wide receiver
|undraftedyear = 1956
|high_school = South San Francisco High School
|college = Pacific
|teams=
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1956|1964}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 82
| statlabel2 = Starts
| statvalue2 = 67
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 203
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 2,643
| statlabel5 = Touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 18
}}
Clyde Raymond Conner (May 18, 1933 – December 12, 2011) was an American professional football player who played split end for eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers during the 1950s-60s.{{cite news |title=Ex-49er end Clyde Conner moves to Reno next week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-ex-49er-end-clyde-c/128947804/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Nevada State Journal |date=3 October 1964 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Dick Kranz |title=Kranz-Berries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stockton-evening-and-sunday-record-kranz/128947838/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Stockton Evening and Sunday Record |date=30 July 1962 |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Clyde played football at Pacific for three seasons.{{cite web |title=Clyde Conner (1986) - Hall of Fame |url=https://pacifictigers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/clyde-conner/37 |website=pacifictigers.com |access-date=27 July 2023}} He played varsity basketball for the Tigers during the 1954 and 1955 seasons, as well, and was a leading scorer at the guard position.{{cite web |title=1954-55 Pacific Tigers Men's Roster and Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/pacific/men/1955.html |website=sports-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=27 July 2023}} In 1986 he was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Early life and college
Conner was born in Tuttle, Oklahoma; his family moved to South San Francisco, California in 1940. He graduated from South San Francisco High School, then attended the College of San Mateo before transferring to University of the Pacific.
Clyde played football at Pacific for three seasons.{{cite web |title=Clyde Conner (1986) - Hall of Fame |url=https://pacifictigers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/clyde-conner/37 |website=pacifictigers.com |access-date=27 July 2023}} He played varsity basketball for the Tigers during the 1954 and 1955 seasons, as well, and was a leading scorer at the guard position.{{cite web |title=1954-55 Pacific Tigers Men's Roster and Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/pacific/men/1955.html |website=sports-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=27 July 2023}} In 1986 he was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional football
Conner attended a 49ers' open tryout the year following his graduation and was signed by the team after making a notable catch during a scrimmage.{{cite news |title=History of 49ers Camp: St. Mary's College |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/history-of-49ers-camp-st-mary-s-college |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=49ers.com |date=6 August 2021}} He tied for fifth-place in voting for UPI Rookie of the year, and went on to play in 83 game over an eight-season career, making 203 catches for 2,643 yards.{{cite web |title=Clyde Conner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConnCl00.htm |website=pro-football-reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=27 July 2023}} He missed all but five games of the 1961 season after suffering a concussion.{{cite news |title=Forty-Niners lose end Clyde Conner for season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-forty-n/128947735/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News |agency=UPI |date=7 November 1961 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} He was put on waivers in September 1964.{{cite news |author1=Ed Jacoubowsky |title=Cutting an old pro is rough |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/redwood-city-tribune-cutting-an-old-pro/128947629/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Redwood City Tribune |date=2 September 1964 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |author1=Bob Brachman |title=49ers release vet Clyde Conner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-49ers-release/128947764/ |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=2 September 1964 |page=59 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}
Personal life
Conner married Mary MacRitchie in 1957; they lived in Los Altos with their son and daughter from 1967 until Clyde's death in 2011.{{cite news |author1=Jen Nowell |title=Former 49ers football great Clyde Conner, 78: Outstanding player, father |url=https://www.losaltosonline.com/people/obituaries/former-49ers-football-great-clyde-conner-78-outstanding-player-father/article_11a65c3a-fb5a-56d3-90f0-fc52e57e37de.html |access-date=27 July 2023 |work=Los Altos Town Crier |date=4 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719045523/https://www.losaltosonline.com/people/obituaries/former-49ers-football-great-clyde-conner-78-outstanding-player-father/article_11a65c3a-fb5a-56d3-90f0-fc52e57e37de.html |archive-date=19 July 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConnCl00.htm Pro football stats] at pro-football-reference.com
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/clyde-conner-1.html College basketball stats] at Sports Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conner, Clyde}}
Category:People from Tuttle, Oklahoma
Category:Sportspeople from Grady County, Oklahoma
Category:Sportspeople from South San Francisco, California
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Pacific Tigers football players
Category:Pacific Tigers men's basketball players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma
Category:Players of American football from San Mateo County, California