Clayt Webeck

Clayt Webeck

Clayt Webeck exemplifies what the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame prides itself on - also honoring those who may not have starred in athletics, but volunteered their time so others could. Webeck not only was a tireless volunteer in sports and non-sports endeavors, but he also made a name for himself by participating in football, basketball, baseball, track, volleyball, table tennis, roller skating, ice skating, and horseshoe pitching.

Basketball was his favorite sport and he played through junior high school and high school. He then played with several Jamestown teams and also served as coach. In 1933-34, Webeck played center for the Crescents football team and he also played softball for the Post-Journal All-Stars against the Buffalo Campagnas.

While continuing his sports participation, the former Jamestown Fire Department Captain began promoting sports events in the area. He was one of the organizers of the American Athletic Club, later known as the Mathews and Miller Athletic Club and now known as the Jock Shop Athletic Club. Webeck promoted Chautauqua Lake and Great Lakes speed skating meets for many years. ln 1934 he brought World and Olympic speed skating champion Kit Klein to Jamestown for an exhibition.

In 1940, he brought in the Cleveland Browns of the All-American Football Conference to play a basketball benefit game for the March of Dimes. From 1940-45, Webeck promoted many all-star attractions to benefit Jamestown men and women in the armed forces. In 1946, he promoted the College All-Stars and Jamestown All-Stars basketball teams to raise funds for the Stadium Fund. That brought college teams from St. Bonaventure, Wooster, Allegheny, Alfred and Canisius to Jamestown to play games and also the Harlem Globetrotters and All-American Redheads.

Webeck also promoted roller skating carnivals and was chairman of the Chautauqua Regional Tennis Toumament.

Out of the area of sports, Webeck was Jamestown chairman of the March of Dimes from 1943-46 and Chautauqua County chairman from 1946-62. He was instrumental in organizing the Sabin Oral Vaccine program in Chautauqua County and this county became the first in the nation to administer the vaccine on a voluntary basis.

Webeck died on October 8, 1962, after walking off the 18th green at Cassadaga Country Club. He was playing a tournament he had previously won.

Clayt Webeck was inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

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Volunteers Needed

The Sports Hall of Fame is dependent on the volunteers who staff the hall. They are dedicated to the hall and the athletes honored there. The Board of Directors greatly appreciates the time and effort given by the volunteers.

The CSHoF can use additional volunteers to be at the hall during the day to greet visitors. To volunteer contact Randy Anderson at 716-640-6219.

Trophies on display at the Hall of Fame.