Boobie Clark

Charles Lee "Boobie" Clark (November 8, 1949 – October 25, 1988) was a professional American football running back who played in the National Football League for eight seasons and was named the UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year for 1973.

Early years
Clark was born in Jacksonville, Florida and was an athletic standout at Stanton High School, where the nickname "Boobie" originated. He played tight end in high school and at Bethune-Cookman College.

Pro football
He was drafted in the 12th round by the Cincinnati Bengals and became a fullback. Despite inexperience at the position, he was named Rookie of the Year in 1973. That same year, Clark was involved in an on-field incident where he struck Dale Hackbart of the Denver Broncos with a right forearm to the back of Hackbart's head and neck after the play was finished. Hackbart filed a lawsuit and the case eventually went to trial as an intentional tort, specifically battery (tort). Clark testified that he was frustrated because his team was losing and that he intentionally hit Hackbart due to his frustration. The case went as far as the United States Court of Appeals (10th Circuit) in 1979.

Clark played for Cincinnati from 1973–1978, where he rushed for 2,978 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also caught 151 passes for 1,139 yards and two touchdowns. He was traded to the Houston Oilers where he played little from 1979–1980. He retired before the 1981 season started.

Death
Clark died of a blood clot in his lung at the age of 37 on October 25, 1988 at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. The City of Jacksonville renamed the Sherwood Forest Playground as Charles "Boobie" Clark Park and Pool in his honor. The Florida Times-Union named Clark number 37 on their list of the top 100 athletes from Jacksonville in 2000.