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Biography

Born on Pearl Harbor Day, Wayne Clinton was part of the integration movement at his high school in St. Louis. After college, he taught Social Studies in Ames Iowa for 34 years at the junior and senior high levels. During that time he also coached championship football as well as boys and girls basketball. He is now in his ninth year as Story County Supervisor.

Transcript

Student Interviewer: I am interviewing Wayne Clinton today is July 28, 2009. Where were you born?

Wayne Clinton: Well I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, a long time ago. You want my birthday too? That dates me. December 7th, 1941. So I am considered a senior citizen today.

Student Interviewer: What do you do with your job?

Wayne Clinton: Right now I’m a Story County Supervisor. I’m an elected official. And I manage the county. I’m responsible for trying to provide the needed services to the citizens of Story County.

Student Interviewer: Do you like doing that?

Wayne Clinton: I love it. Prior to that, I was a teacher for 34 years in Ames School District.

Student Interviewer: OK. Would you ever move out of the Story County area?

Wayne Clinton: No. First of all I grew up in St. Louis. I went to college out of high school. I was a very good athlete. I got a scholarship to go to St. Louis University. While there, I went there to play basketball and run track. And I was interested in playing ball rather than studying. So after my freshman year I dropped out of school and spent a year as a lab technician in Washington University dissecting monkey brains. And I got my own apartment; my mother moved in with me. And by the time I got my paycheck, I had $18.00 to last for the whole month, after I paid for my utilities. So I decided I needed to go back to school and get an education. And Northeast Missouri and Kirksville had recruited me out of high school. And one day one of my coaches said to ask me if I wanted to get back into school. I said yes. So that’s where I ended up. And I graduated from Northeast Missouri. And that led the way…and later I will probably tell you how I ended up coming to Ames as a result of that. So I’ve been here for 42 years. And so I almost left here because I had an opportunity to move back to St. Louis in 1974. But the people here talked me into staying and that was the best decision I ever made.

Student Interviewer: What did you like most about teaching?

Wayne Clinton: Probably the relationship with kids. I really felt that my life was enriched and I hoped that I helped make a difference in the lives of the students. I truly did enjoy it. I looked forward to going to class every day. And I told people when I retired that in the 34 years that I was in the classroom I only had one bad day. And that’s teaching 7th graders, believe it or not. But I think the, just general, support and acceptance of students, I had a maybe a way to connect with kids that was very special. Even to this day, many of them call me, write me, invite me back to reunions, just share great memories of you know, what it was like when they were in my classroom. So I just can’t say enough about the joy that I received as a classroom teacher.

Student Interviewer: Was Social Studies your strongest interest in high school?

Wayne Clinton: Well actually Physical Education was my strongest interest…interest, because of athletics and so forth. So I actually majored in Physical Education and Social Studies was my minor. But I realized in order to get a teaching certificate you needed to have something else along with Physical Education. And that’s really what landed me here, because my job when I was offered a job in Ames it was to teach 7th grade Social Studies with some coaching. So I never taught Physical Education class in all my years in teaching here in Ames. (Dogs barking)

Student Interviewer: Were there any hard obstacles in your life that you had to overcome?

Wayne Clinton: Discrimination. I was a product of the 60s. I actually went to high school in 1956. And to make a long story short, I integrated…..I was a part of a group that integrated my high school, Beaumont High School. The summer before we went there, there were riots in the park. Parents didn’t want African Americans going to a predominately all white school. But because of my athletic background and so forth it opened doors for me that some of my other nonathletic classmates did not enjoy. But there was segregation…segregated facilities. We couldn’t eat in many places. We could only ride in certain areas on the buses and public transportation. So growing up during that area I had to learn how to interact and engage in an environment where I knew that I was treated as a second class citizen. But for some reason I was determined that I was going to make something of my life. And I wasn’t going to let the societal issues really keep me from being successful.

Student Interviewer: What is your greatest accomplishment?

Wayne Clinton: My greatest accomplishment? Wow, where do I start? Probably I’m going to first of all say that it was the impact that I think I made on young people as a teacher and a coach. That probably supersedes any other award or achievement that I’ve had. I was fortunate as a high school coach to win the 1991 Ames High School State Championship. Fred Hoyberg was my star player, went on to play in the professional ranks. We stay in touch today. So from a coaching standpoint that was a great accomplishment. I was able to officiate boys and girls basketball, football, I worked many state tournaments. I was one of the first African Americans to be able to officiate in the Missouri Valley in basketball in the 70s and the Big Eight conference during that time. And now, when I retired, my colleagues encourage me to run for an elective office. While there were two other candidates whose name was on the ballet and had already started, within two days of announcing that I was going to run, I had parents of former students who came and took my petitions, and got me the signatures that I needed, gave me their support. And now I am serving in my ninth year on the County Board of Supervisors as an elected official. And I would have to say that, if I look back on my life I would have never thought I would have the opportunities that I have today, being an elected official and getting the chance to travel all over this country. I go to Washington DC every March, to visit with our congressional delegations, on behalf of the citizens of Story County. In addition to that, obviously, I was married to a wonderful lady, Edna Clinton. We’d been married….We just celebrated our 46th anniversary. And I have three wonderful kids and nine biological grandchildren. So what more could a person ask?

Student Interviewer: What was your first job?

Wayne Clinton: My actual first job. Well, of any consequences was teaching here at Ames. Coming out of school in 1966, I was called to come here. And I got the teaching job. I had ran track and competed at Drake. And I got a call about coming to Ames for an interview and to be frank I didn’t know anything about Ames. They told me it was 28 miles north of Des Moines. And I had drawn….took a compass and drew a 12 hour radius around Des Moines. So I sent out resumes, wanting to teach near the Drake Relays. And so coming here was my very first job. I had no idea that I would stay here as long as I have. But I knew that I wanted at least; let that be a stepping stone for some other good things in my life. And it just, one thing led to another, and as I say teaching and coaching has been most of my life. And now as an elected official it’s just the icing on the cake. So now I used to convince my students that I knew what I was talking about. Now I have to work to convince the parents that I know what I am talking about. So that’s a big difference.

Student Interviewer: Well, I thank you for taking your time for the interview.

Wayne Clinton: It was my pleasure.

Student Interviewer: Is there anything else you would like to say or anything I didn’t ask?

Wayne Clinton:  Well, I’m honored to be asked first of all. I want to thank you for taking the time. Whoever thought to include me in this project is also a humbling experience. I never, you know tried to set myself up as anybody special. I just wanted to try to make a difference in the lives of the people that entrust in me the confidence and faith. So this is a special moment again for me. So I will think about you know my opportunity to visit with you and the young ladies here in Ames. And I will wish you all well.