Sports history in pictures: for 50 years, Rich Clarkson has shot great athletes in the greatest games.

• Author: Estrella, Joe
• Position: Attitude at Altitude - Biography

DENVER SPORTS FANS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING

Rich Clarkson's photography for years, but wouldn't recognize him if they passed him on the street.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

During a 50-year career, Clarkson has photographed most major sports events held on U.S. soil, including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Olympics and 93 NCAA championships.

"I've photographed 48 Final Fours," says Clarkson, whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Time and Life magazines. "But I couldn't tell you one picture that was my favorite."

Nevertheless, the NCAA is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Final Four with an exhibit of 32 Clarkson photographs in its Hall of Champions in Indianapolis. Among those pictured are Wilt Chamberlain of the University of Kansas and former Indiana University coach Bobby Knight.

Closer to home, his Denver-based company, Clarkson & Associates, handles all the original photography and publishing for the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies.

And as if that's not enough, his work also has an international flavor.

Clarkson organized coverage of the Munich, Montreal and Moscow Olympics, has lectured to the International Center of Photography and served as a consultant to the Sasakawa Foundation, a Tokyo-based organization that sponsors an annual contest designed to extol the virtues of sports through great photography.

So, how has a man named one of the 50 most influential individuals in American photography remained virtually anonymous in his adopted hometown?

Maybe it's because Clarkson at heart has always been a teacher.

A native of Lawrence, Kan., he began his career as a high school senior, shooting basketball at the University of Kansas. He would graduate from KU in 1956.

He passed on an offer to head up the photo department at Sports Illustrated to become director of photography at The Topeka Capital Journal when the...