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Duke Slater
The Duke Slater Memorial Statue Committee is installing a life-size statue of Duke at Clinton High School.
How To Donate
Check or Money Order
Make payable to
River Kings & Queens
Athletic Booster Club
Mail to
Duke Slater Memorial Statue Fund
1442 Lincoln Way, Clinton, Iowa 52732
Credit Card
Fill out the donation form or call Citizens First Bank and they can process your credit card.
GoFundMe
Currently not active. To make a donation with a credit card, please fill out the form to the left or contact Citizens First Bank.
The IRS has designated River King and Queen Athletic Booster Club a 501 (c) 3 organization Tax ID#: 42-1417260 - qualified to receive tax deductible contributions.
Beacon of Hope: Discover Duke's All-American Life
The Duke Slater Fundraiser Event (May 2024)
About Duke
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
Clinton High School Athletic & Academic Hall of Famer
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020
Judicial Hall of Fame & Civil Rights
Statue FAQs
The committee has raised the money to build the statue. Thank you to major donors:
Clinton County Development Association
Clinton Community School District
Citizens First Bank
Clinton National Bank
First Central Bank
Clinton LumberKings
Nelson Corp
Beth Griswold
Patrick and Melissa Parker
Craig Smith
Friends of River Stadium
Chuck and Brenda Thornton
Ted and Ruth Tornow
Gary and Barb VandeKamp
Josh and Marissa Mussman
Quality Concrete
1st Gateway Credit Union
John and Ann Eisenman
Rick and Kathy Forrest
Paul and Lynn Schnack
Brodin
Each of our bonze sculptures uses the ancient “Lost Wax” process of hot bronze casting. This method ensures a level of detail and quality that is unsurpassed. It allows us to “customize” each sculpture for any department and every individual – with your uniform, your badges, your patches, and the equipment you wear, uniform or plain clothes, every statue of thousands “unique.”
Location
Street Location
We want every Clinton High schooler to walk by Duke as they enter the school. We also want the statue to be accessible to the general public for photos and reflection.
Purchase a Commemorative Brick
There will be a pocket park with seating surrounding Duke. Purchase a commemorative brick today to honor your family or someone in your life. Download the form here.
Activity | Timeline | Details |
|---|---|---|
Design of Statue | Began December 1, 2022 | $49,000 |
Pocket Park | Winter 2023-2024 | Finished, but still looking for improvements |
Statue Fund | May 9, 2024 | Kirk Ferentz Kickoff Luncheon to raise money for statue. The goal is to have an annual golf outing. |
Duke Slater Statue Dedication | September 6, 2024 | Installation of the statue will be at the first home CHS football game |
Duke Slater Statue & Scholarship Fund
Donate Today!