A Clinton High School student has researched and written the following article about one of the 2022 Hall of Honor inductees. The induction ceremony will occur on Friday, April 8, at Clinton High School.
Duke Slater
Professional Accomplishments
By Ali House
It is a great honor and pleasure to announce Judge Fred W. “Duke” Slater as one of the inductees into Clinton High School’s Hall of Honors.
As many of us know, Judge Slater had a successful athletic career here at CHS. He ran track but is more famously known for his outstanding football career. Slater was an all-stater in high school. He then attended the University of Iowa to play football where he became a three time All-American and became the first African-American in school history to receive the honor. Slater went on to play in the NFL for 10 seasons. At the time, he was the league’s only African-American lineman and many times, the only African-American on the field. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The field at Kinnick Stadium is now named after him as well. Slater understood the importance of education and knew that if he didn’t keep his grades up, he wouldn’t be able to continue playing football.
Slater studied law at the University of Iowa. After he graduated and after his football career was over, became a Judge in Chicago. He later moved up to the Chicago Superior Court and then into the Cook County Circuit Court. Since his passing, he has received many other awards, along with two local ones, those being the Clinton County Walk of Fame and the Clinton High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
Duke Slater loved Clinton and he loved Clinton High School. His niece, Sandra Wilkins, recalls how much he credited Clinton High for setting him up for a successful life. When he was sworn in as judge in Chicago, Mrs. Wilkins remembers the tears forming in his eyes as he recognized his coach from Clinton High School, Clinton Osborne. It is for all these reasons that Judge Fred W. Duke Slater is an outstanding inductee in our Hall of Honor.
The public will be invited for the luncheon and induction speech portion of the day scheduled between 11:30 and 2:30 on Friday April 8. The Clinton High School culinary students will cater the luncheon. Inductees will be guests of the Hall of Honor Committee. The luncheon will cost $14 per other attendees. Main entrees are Seafood Lasagna or Caesar Chicken. Please call Deb Deters at 563-243-7540, extension 1180 or email at deb.deters@csdkq.org.