Clarence Marble

Clarence Marble (born c. 1936 in Memphis, Tennessee; died January 20, 2008 in Birmingham) was a high school coach, best known for his Talladega County Central High School basketball teams.

Marble grew up in Memphis and starred for the Rust Methodist College baseball team in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He had a short professional baseball career with the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro Leagues and as a semi-pro with the St Louis Cardinals.

In 1960 Marble enlisted in the armed forces and suffered an arm injury which ended his playing career. He decided to go into coaching and began a 40-year career at Our Lady of Fatima School. He later coached at Phyllis Wheatley High School in Childersburg, at Ophelia S. Hill High School in Munford and, finally, at Talladega County Central High School. His 1984 squad went 30-3 and won the 1A state championship. In all, Marble took four basketball teams to the state tournament and one baseball team to the state final.

Marble retired in 1999. He died in Birmingham in January 2008. A memorial service was held at the gymnasium at Talladega Central which bears his name, followed by a funeral at New Hope Bapitst Church in Birmingham. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2009.

References

• Heath, Will (January 23, 2008) "Marble a symbol of days now gone by." Daily Home
• Heath, Will (January 26, 2008) "Late Clarence Marble remembered at memorial service held in TCCHS gym." Daily Home