Clyde Luther "Smackover" Scott was born in Dixie, Louisiana, on August 29, 1924. He grew up in Smackover, Union County, Arkansas.
Scott attended the United States Naval Academy until he was recruited by Coach John Barnhill to transfer to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. As a Razorback, Scott was on the track and football teams. In track, he placed first in the 110-meter high hurdles in the NCAA championship in 1948. He won the silver medal in the same event at the London Olympics.
In football, he played against LSU in the 1947 Cotton Bowl, where he stopped the opposing team on the one-yard line and forced a tie. Barnhill considered him one of the best defensive players he had ever coached. As a professional athlete, he played football for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions.
One of Arkansas's greatest athletes, Scott was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Scott passed away on January 30, 2018.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Clyde Scott and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Clyde Scott (back row, second from right) with the 1942 Buckaroos football team; Smackover, Arkansas, 1942
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Clyde Scott as a student at the Naval Academy; Annapolis, Maryland, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Clyde Scott's future wife, Leslie Hampton, Miss Arkansas, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Clyde Scott's future wife, Leslie Hampton (center), Miss Arkansas, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Leslie Hampton's ticket stub to the Army-Navy football game, December 1, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: University of Arkansas yearbook photo of Bob Cope, Leslie Hampton (future wife of Clyde Scott), and Henry Ford, 1945
© University of Arkansas
#8: Clyde Scott football publicity photo from Naval Academy, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Couples' night at the Casino Royal, back row: Baylor Lansden, unknown, Roy Russell, unknown; front row: Clyde Scott, Leslie Hampton, Jane, Henry, Buddy McClure, unknown; Washington, DC, Summer 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Telegram from Clyde Scott to his future wife, Leslie Hampton, June 28, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Telegram from Clyde Scott to his future wife, Leslie Hampton, July 12, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: University of Arkansas yearbook photo: Aubrey Fowler, Coach John Barnhill, Joyce Pipken, Clyde Scott
© University of Arkansas
#13: Clyde Scott, the Smackover Kid, newspaper photo, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Clyde Scott pictured in a newspaper article about the Arkansas-Texas A&M football game, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Newspaper cartoon by Jon Kennedy depicting Clyde Scott's recruitment to the University of Arkansas, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Clyde Scott, junior year, University of Arkansas yearbook, 1947
© University of Arkansas
#17: Autographed publicity photo of Clyde Scott as a Razorback football player
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Clyde Scott's official football picture in the University of Arkansas yearbook, 1948
© University of Arkansas
#19: Clyde Scott, photo in track uniform, University of Arkansas, 1948
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Photo of Clyde Scott, William Porter, and Craig Dixon jumping the last hurdle of the 110-meters hurdles at the 1948 Olympics; from page 96 of the Report of the United States Olympic Committee
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Clyde Scott, William Porter, and Craig Dixon crossing the finish line of the 110-meters hurdles at the 1948 Olympics
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Clyde Scott article and photos from the University of Arkansas yearbook, 1948
© University of Arkansas
#23: University of Arkansas yearbook photos of Clyde Scott
© University of Arkansas
#24: University of Arkansas yearbook photos of Clyde Scott running the 100-meters hurdles at the 1948 Olympics
© University of Arkansas
#25: Clyde Scott, senior year, University of Arkansas yearbook, 1948
© University of Arkansas
#26: Clyde Scott's family, Marsha, Leslie, and Steve Scott
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Clyde Scott's NFL publicity photo as halfback for the Philadelphia Eagles, 1949–1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Clyde Scott (third row, fourth from left) with the Philadelphia Eagles, NFL Champions, 1949
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Clyde Scott's family, Steve, Leslie, and Marsha Scott
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Article about Clyde Scott, from All-American to vice president of Union Life Insurance Co., 1965
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Clyde Scott, Distinguished Alumnus, University of Arkansas, June 1, 1968
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Program for the Smackover High School Homecoming and Clyde Scott Day in Arkansas, October 29, 1971
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Clyde and Leslie Scott, 1986
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Leslie and Clyde Scott, 1996
© Leslie and Clyde Scott, 1996
#35: Clyde Scott carrying the torch in the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Clyde Scott display at the University of Arkansas, May 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Plaque accompanying the Clyde Scott display at the University of Arkansas, May 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Clyde Scott's medals on display at the University of Arkansas, May 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Plaque accompanying Clyde Scott's medals on display at the University of Arkansas, May 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Plaque accompanying the Clyde Scott display at the University of Arkansas, May 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Clyde Scott; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Clyde Scott; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#43: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Clyde Scott; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#44: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Clyde Scott; Little Rock, Arkansas, 2010
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
