CLARENCE SHEARER
To say Clark County in the 1940s was a formidable foe in the 16th Region is a great understatement. Under Coach Letcher Norton from 1945 to 1953 the Cardinals won 252 games while losing only 45. In those eight seasons they won the 16th Regional Title six times and were the State champions in the 1950-51 season. In one of the two seasons they never won the Region crown they still managed 30 wins. Norton was missing for two seasons, most likely for military service during the 1953-54 and 1954-55 seasons. He returned for seven more seasons. It was with a few of those great teams of the late 1940’s that Clarence Shearer shined.
Shearer was a senior in 1948-49 along with two more highly acclaimed teammates. Jim Wells, a 1st Team All-Stater and Lindle Castle, a 2nd Team All State player for that 1949 team. But the willowy 6ft. 4 in. 190 lb. Shearer was also a force to be reckoned with.
Clarence Shearer made the All-District Tournament as well as the All-Region team as a senior. He would be named as an All-State Honorable Mention selection. He also played in a few All Star series: the Kentucky vs. Indiana All Stars, coached by Western Ky University’s Ed Diddle and on the Kentucky squad that played against West Virginia’s All Stars. He was coached there by Morehead’s Ellis Johnson. He also played for Kentucky All Stars vs. Ohio All Stars.
For the 1949-50 season Shearer played for his hometown Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers. He was a four-season starter for the Panthers, who moved their campus to Owensboro in 1951. As a freshman at KWU the Panthers defeated the University of Kentucky, no small achievement, breaking a 23 game win streak by the Wildcats.
At Wesleyan, Shearer played for four consecutive KIAC championship teams and was captain his senior season. He also led the team in scoring and rebounding that season. In his last season in the KIAC championship game he scored 20 points. His team had averaged over 90 ppg during the tournament until the championship game.
One thing that stood out besides his great play was the team players lived with supporters when they moved to Owensboro. That would be unheard of in today’s world of college basketball. Three players lived at one residence including Shearer and Paintsville’s Dave Daniel.
At Wesleyan he was known by his nickname “Rusty,” but that name definitely never matched Shearer’s play.
