banksmcfadden

     Usually when one gets out of the spotlight, his accomplishments soon fade and gather dust in some far off corner in the basement or attic. But not Banks McFadden.
     Now in his 80's and living in retirement, Banks looks back with many fond memories and Clemson fans remember him as probably the greatest natural athlete ever to play for the Tigers.
     Although he brought great pride to Clemson with his athletic ability, and later with his coaching, McFadden says, "working with the athletes and working for the people whom we had here at Clemson...it's been a tremendous life. It's something I'll never regret and I couldn't have asked for things to be better."
     For some of you in the 'Pepsi Generation' who might not have read your Clemson athletic history too well, let us do a little refreshing on the one called "Bonnie Banks."
     Was named All-American in both basketball (1938-39) and football (1939)
          the same calendar year.
     Was voted the nation's most versatile athlete(1938-39).
     Led Clemson to its first conference basketball championship (1939).
     Led Clemson to its first bowl game and victory (1940 Cotton).
     Won three events in the State Track Meet in one afternoon, setting
          records in all three of them. Earlier in the same year placed first in five
          events in a dual meet, scoring 25 points while the opposing team's
          total score was 28 points.
     Was Clemson's first 1st round draft choice (1939 Brooklyn Dodgers).
     Tied for the longest rushing play in Clemson history (90 yards vs.
          Presbyterian, 1939).
     Has the most punts for over 50 yards in a game (six vs Tulane, 1939) and
          in a season (22 on 65 punts in 1939).
     Held Clemson punting record (43.5) for 40 years (1939 to 1979).
     First Clemson player invited to participate in the College All-Star game in
          Chicago.
     Charter member in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and Clemson ring of
          Honor.
     Charter member in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and Clemson
          Ring of Honor.
     Charter member in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
     Only Clemson player ever chosen for the National Football Foundation Hall
          of Fame.
     Highest NFL draft pick in Clemson history (#3 in entire 1940 draft).
    That's 15 of his more noteworthy accomplishments, and it wouldn't take too long to dig out twice that many more. But those listed should be enough for the average sports buff to be impressed.
     Banks played one year (1940) of pro football with the old Brooklyn Dodgers and led the NFL in yards per carry, but he didn't care at all for the big city life. Grass felt better under his feet than pavement so he returned 'home' and joined the coaching staff of Coach Frank Howard.
     Banks coached the defensive backs for one year (1941) before joining the Army Air Corps and spending four years in North Africa and Italy. He was discharged as a colonel. He recalls that "after the war, everything began to blossom out" as far as college football was concerned.
     One thing that 'blossomed out' was his marriage to "Aggie" Rigsby of Manning. As it appears sometimes with former athletes, former backs produce girls and he and "Aggie" had four of them-Patsy, Lil, Marcia, and Jan. And the grand kids-there are nine of them-five boys and four girls. The McFaddens celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently.
     McFadden came back to Clemson after his service and was again the secondary coach, this time for four years (1946-49), and then took over as head freshman football coach for five years before returning to coach defensive backs in 1955, a spot he held until Howard retired following the '69 season.