Clay Hitchcock

Inducted Class of 1999

Clay Hitchcock graduated from Tucson High School in 1947. He participated in basketball and track, placing fourth hurdles in the state championships. He enrolled at the University of Arizona where he lettered in track and field until he graduated in 1952. After completing a stint in the Korean War, he earned a Master’s Degree in Biology.

Clay began his career as a teacher/coach at Pueblo High School in 1955. Many of his students have said, “He was a model for all students at Pueblo. He was articulate, and spent a lot of time highlighting other aspects of life.” He retired from Pueblo after 33 years as head track coach. During that time, Pueblo High School had more than 15 head coaches in football, basketball and baseball, but only one in track — Clay Hitchcock.

Clay also had a 27-year career spending his summers working with the U.S. Forest Service fighting forest fires in our National Parks. He later became an investigator determining the origins of forest fires.