CLARENCE G. HASKELL - THE CRIMSON EXPRESS
Clarence G. "Clarry" Haskell, 91, of New Bedford died June 30, 2005 at Blaire House after a short, courageous battle with cancer. He was the former husband of Thelma (Hopwood) Haskell of New Jersey and the late Elizabeth (Ross) Haskell, and companion of the late Marie Boucher.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Isaac F. Haskell, Jr., and Lillian R. (Simmons) Haskell, he lived in New Bedford for most of his life and wintered in Florida for many years.
Mr. Haskell was an outstanding athlete with many accomplishments, who while at New Bedford High School was known as the "Crimson Express." He was a member of Van Camps High School All-American Football Team and was Most Valuable Player in the New England M.I.T. Basketball Tournament. After being offered 55 college scholarships, Coach Hunk Anderson recruited him for the University of Notre Dame. Coach Anderson was then hired as coach at North Carolina State and Mr. Haskell joined him there. After his freshman year in college, Mr. Haskell was considered a consensus All-American. He participated in a 100 yard foot race against three horses at the Middleboro Fair and lost by a nose. Albie Booth of Yale University considered him to be the finest football player to come out of New England.
While at New Bedford High School in 1929, his American Legion Baseball team won the Massachusetts State Championship. While working in the summer of his sophomore year in college, Mr. Haskell was involved in an auto accident that tragically changed his life and his sports career. He continued to play semi-pro football with the Murphy Club and helped found the Whalers semi-pro football team in 1942. He later was the football coach at the New Bedford Textile Institute until 1957. He then was employed as an automobile salesman until his retirement. Mr. Haskell was one of the first inductees in the New Bedford High Gridiron Club Hall of Fame.
Survivors include his two daughters, Jane M. Haskell of New Bedford and Lori Bowman of New Hampshire; several grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Gordon C. Haskell, Jr., Thomas Haskell, and James K. Haskell.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Wednesday July 6, 2005 from 4-6 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. A private burial service will be held in the Friends Cemetery in Dartmouth.