Duke Slater: Clinton High School Graduate
Frederick Wayman "Duke" Slater December 9, 1898 – August 14, 1966
Born in Normal, Illinois, and moved to Clinton in 1911. Led the Clinton High School football team to two state championships, 1913-14. Attended the University of Iowa and earned three All-Big Ten selections, 1919-21. Named a first team All-American in 1921 after Iowa’s national championship season. Joined the National Football League in 1922, becoming the first African-American lineman in NFL history. Played in the NFL for 10 years and achieved All-Pro status six times. Started 96 of the 99 career pro games he played. Earned his law degree from Iowa in 1928 and practiced law in Chicago while still playing in the NFL. Became an assistant district attorney and an assistant Illinois commerce commissioner after retiring from football. Elected as the second African-American judge on the Cook County Municipal Court in Chicago in 1948. Elevated to the Cook County Superior Court in 1960, becoming the first African-American to serve on that court. Moved to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1964, where he served until his death in 1966. Named to the inaugural class of the Iowa High School Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Inducted as the first and only African-American in the inaugural class of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Elected to the centennial class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Became the namesake of the football field at the University of Iowa when it was named Duke Slater Field in his honor in 2021.
Born in Normal, Illinois, and moved to Clinton in 1911. Led the Clinton High School football team to two state championships, 1913-14. Attended the University of Iowa and earned three All-Big Ten selections, 1919-21. Named a first team All-American in 1921 after Iowa’s national championship season. Joined the National Football League in 1922, becoming the first African-American lineman in NFL history. Played in the NFL for 10 years and achieved All-Pro status six times. Started 96 of the 99 career pro games he played. Earned his law degree from Iowa in 1928 and practiced law in Chicago while still playing in the NFL. Became an assistant district attorney and an assistant Illinois commerce commissioner after retiring from football. Elected as the second African-American judge on the Cook County Municipal Court in Chicago in 1948. Elevated to the Cook County Superior Court in 1960, becoming the first African-American to serve on that court. Moved to the Circuit Court of Cook County in 1964, where he served until his death in 1966. Named to the inaugural class of the Iowa High School Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Inducted as the first and only African-American in the inaugural class of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Elected to the centennial class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Became the namesake of the football field at the University of Iowa when it was named Duke Slater Field in his honor in 2021.