Clemons, who has served as Director of Development for the Howard University John H. Johnson School of Communications since December of 2009, began his career at Howard as assistant sports information director in 1980. Two years later, he was promoted to Director of Sports Information and thus began his successful rise in the sports communications and marketing development industry.
Clemons was the first African-American SID to serve as press liaison at the United States Olympic Committee Sports Festival Games (in Colorado Springs, Co) and then again, was the first black Venue Press Chief at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games where he worked with track and field and boxing.
After joining Major League Baseball in 1991 for a role in business and international PR, Clemons was appointed Vice President of Public Relations and Market Development for the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1994.
Below
is a feature which appeared in the Howard University school paper, focusing on Clemons' professional rise as he overcame numerous racial barriers.
see feature online:
written by Mabel Simon, contributing writer to the Howard University student newspaper, The Hilltop
In 1983 Alois " Ricky" Clemons, a young, ambitious, African-American sports information director at Howard University, decided that he wanted to expand his horizons and work in a broader playing field. He ended up accomplishing more than he ever thought he would achieve, and currently serves as the director of development for the John H. Johnson School of Communications.
Clemons approached Howard's track and field coach William Moultrie, who, at the time, was also coaching the East Team for the 200-meter dash for the United States Olympic Committee Sports Festival games; and asked how could he get involved with the Sports Festival Games.
Moultrie told him to write a letter to Mike Moran. Moran had already hired his staff for the year, but suggested that he come down and volunteer. Clemons accepted the offer and traveled to Colorado Springs, Co., where he became the first African-American sports information director to serve as press liaison at the Sports Festival Games.
As a volunteer, Clemons worked with several other sports information directors from large schools, but he "never saw being the only Black man as a problem."
"I mainly wanted to show that I could do the work," Clemons said. " At the time I viewed this position as a way for me to reach my career goals, not to break any color barriers."
But Clemons did break the color barrier at the Sports Festival in 1983, and his strong work ethic placed him in the position to break another color barrier in 1984.
In December 1983, Clemons was still serving as the sports information director at Howard University, and he had traveled to Los Angeles with the men' s basketball team which was scheduled to play against UCLA. At the time, there was a lot of construction going on at the LA airport. Clemons inquired about the construction and learned that the airport was preparing for the Olympics. At that moment Clemons decided that working for the Olympics was his next goal.
After making a few calls Clemons, was offered a summer position with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, but he was in for a surprise the night of the Howard and UCLA game.
"I was happy with my summer position. I had no idea I was going to be given this opportunity. It was more than I ever thought I was going to achieve," Clemons said.
After the game, Richard Perelman, the press chief for the 1984 Olympics, told Clemons that he wanted him to move to Los Angeles and work for the 1984 Olympics Committee full-time. Eager to accept the offer, Clemons took a leave of absence for a year from Howard and moved his family to Los Angeles. He served as the Venue Press Chief for Track and Field and Boxing.
Ed Hill, current CoSIDA Board of Directors member who was hired by Clemons as the Howard University Sports Information Director in 1986 said, "I think a person has to have a lot of self confidence to be able to leave everything and explore an opportunity to work for the Olympics or any other job of that magnitude, and Ricky has always had that confidence. He' s always had ambitions to do something new or that hadn' t been done before. He left for Los Angeles and he didn't doubt himself."
Deemed "The Man for All Seasons" by Sam Lacy, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee and sports editor of The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper for his barrier-breaking career in sports media, Clemons went on to accomplish many legendary achievements in the industry.
In 1991, Clemons became one of the first African-American faces in the commissioner's office as the business and international public relations manager for Major League Baseball.
He had a 10-year career with Major League Baseball, where he also served as the director of public relations in the commissioner's office and the vice-president of The National League in 1994.
Shaun Powell, author of "Souled Out?" and former student of Clemons, said, "Mr. Clemons gave me my first introduction to sports journalism and learning from him was just tremendous. Anytime you can step in and lead the way it is a tremendous privilege and honor. When you can serve as an example or set a standard, it shows your self worth."
Hill says Clemons has paved the way for other people aspiring for success in the sports media industry.
"We are better served as a result of him being here," Hill said.
While Clemons understands the impact of his accomplishments, he also realizes that there were others before him that helped pave the way as well.
"It was fun to break those barriers, but I' m only standing on the shoulders of those who came before me such as my mentor Sam Lacy, Rick Roberts, Louie Martin, and Ofield Dukes, " Clemons said.