Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Meadowlark Lemon

Role / Field:

American basketball player, actor, and Christian minister known as the "Clown Prince" of the Globetrotters.

Born:

1932-04-25

Died:

2015-12-27

Century / Era:

1932s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Meadowlark Lemon (born Meadow George Lemon III; April 25, 1932 – December 27, 2015) was an American basketball player, actor, and Christian minister. For 22 years, he was known as the "Clown Prince" of the touring Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He was a 2003 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ordained in 1986, in 1994 he started Meadowlark Lemon Ministries in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In one of his final interviews, basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain described Lemon as "the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I've ever seen." Fellow Wilmington great Michael Jordan called Lemon a "true national treasure" and a personal inspiration in Jordan's youth. Meadow George Lemon III was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and attended Williston Industrial School, graduating in 1952. He then matriculated at Florida A&M University, but was soon drafted into the United States Army and served for two years in Austria and West Germany. He had his name legally changed to Meadowlark Lemon in 1969. Lemon made his first basketball hoop out of a coat hanger, using an onion sack for a net and an empty Carnation...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Al Arbour — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Pioneering Canadian hockey player, coach, and executive known for leading the Islanders.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Adrian Frutiger — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Pioneering Swiss typeface designer, master of sans-serif aesthetics.
• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Died in 2015) (2015): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Abdülmecid I — Shared historical date (04-25 · Born) (1823): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Al Pacino — Shared historical date (04-25 · Born) (1940): Intense American actor celebrated for his powerful stage and screen performances.
• Amy Beach — Shared historical date (12-27 · Died) (1944): Pioneering American composer and pianist, celebrated for her large-scale art music.
• Benazir Bhutto — Shared historical date (12-27 · Died) (2007): Pioneering Pakistani stateswoman, first woman PM in a Muslim-majority nation.
• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• April 25 (04-25) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 25
• 2015 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2015
• December 27 (12-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 27

Frequently Asked Questions about Meadowlark Lemon