Back to the Illinois Fighting Illini Newsfeed

Tate: Follmer leaves another void

The passing of Clive Follmer in Urbana last week sent my head spinning.

We were longtime buddies. We date back to our freshman year when we earned UI numerals in basketball and baseball. No comparison is meant there. Clive was in a different league.

He started on Final Four basketball teams the next two years and also pitched for the baseball team. As a senior in 1953, he was named the UI’s top athlete (later the Dike Eddleman Award). The UI’s Big Ten basketball record was 39-7 during his three seasons — repeat, 39-7 — as a starter for Harry Combes.