Clarence J. "Sonny" Small, Sr.

Clarence J. Small, Sr. (Aka Sonny Small) was born May 3, 1942 in Houston, Texas to the late L.J. Small of Dayton, Texas and Nellie Gill-Small of Conroe, Texas. He was raised in Baytown, Texas and attended George Washington Carver Elementary, junior high and high school, graduating in 1961. He was a two sports athlete at Carver and lettered four years in football and three years in track and field. Clarence was an active participant on Carver's 1959 Track & Field State Championship Team. It has been noted that Clarence holds the record for the fewest kick-off returns in carver's football program history and throughout Baytown he was known as a successful left foot kicker. At Carver, he was a member of the choir and a special singing group "The Plantels."

Clarence played football on the 23rd Infantry Football Championship Team, Colorado Colts Semi-Pro Football Team and was scouted by the Oakland Raiders. He served a stint in the United States Army during the Vietnam era where he earned numerous awards and received a certificate of merit, for actively being involved on the football team and in the Choir of the United States Army.

He attended college at both Prairie View A&M College of Texas and Colorado University; however he left college to work at the Stefani Schlitz Distributing Company. He moved to Denver Colorado in 1968 to work for the Anheuser Busch Company where doors opened for him, becoming the first black salesman, Draft Salesman, Marketing Branch Manager, Michelob Branch Manager and District Sales Manager. He retired from Anheuser Busch after 34 years of service.

Clarence is a member of numerous organizations and has been the recipient of many awards/honors. He has three living siblings, ten children, seventeen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

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