From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Gaines, Clarence E., Sr. "BigHouse"
(born: May 21, 1923 - died: April 18, 2005)The son of Lester and Olivia Bolen Gaines, born in Paducah, KY, Clarence E. Gaines was the salutatorian of his graduating class at Lincoln High School; he went on to graduate from Morgan State University with a chemistry degree.
Gaines had been on the basketball, football, and track teams. In 1946 he began coaching football and later coached basketball. In 1967, his Winston-Salem State College [now Winston-Salem State University] team won the NCAA Division II basketball championship, led by Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. It was the first time that a historically Black college had won a national championship.
The Clarence Edward "Big House" Gaines, Sr. Collection is housed in the Winston-Salem State University Archives and Manuscripts.
For more see Who's Who Among African Americans, 1992-2006; African-American sports greats: a biographical dictionary, ed. by D. L. Porter; V. Berstein, "Big House Gaines, 81, basketball coach, dies," The New York Times, Sports Desk section, p. 19; The Legacy of Clarence Edward "Big House" Gaines, Sr., a Digital Forsyth website; and Find a Grave.
