In Memory of  Clinton C. Pickard age 91½, born 11/30/1924, died 6/22/2016 - Lee County, Sanford, North Carolina

Clinton C. Pickard, 91 of Sanford passed away Wednesday June 22, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 4:00pm Saturday at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. 

Born in Lee Co, Mr. Pickard was a son of the late James Clinton Pickard and Ella Fields Pickard. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Massey Pickard. Clint, by many will be best remembered as an Auctioneer. He also sold cars and real estate for many years. He was a longtime member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Railroad House Historical Association and the NC Checkers Assn and active at the Lee Co. Enrichment Center. 

Mr. Pickard is survived by his wife, Ernestine Covington Pickard; nephews, Jimmy and George Pickard; step children, Clarice Smalley, Cindy Hagan (Ken), John Lyon Covington III, (Susan) and Brenda Johnstone (Mike); many grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

The family will receive friends starting at 3:00pm Saturday at the Church. 

Memorials can be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church,   2334 N Plank Rd, Sanford, NC 27330.
Published in The News & Observer and Greensboro News & Record on Saturday, June 25, 2016

It should also be noted around 1973, ACF District 4 Manager James Truitt from Marietta, GA started bring the Southeastern tournaments to Sanford.  Jim and Clint Pickard were working closely and Truitt relied on Clint to help organize and finance the Southeastern which become known as our ACF District 4 Tournament. Clint was an enthusiastic booster and fund raiser which brought many Southeastern Tournaments, and State Tournaments to Sanford, as will as several ACF Nationals. This activity no doubt brought together the efforts to build and strengthen NCCA.  ACF President, Les Balderson's supervision and guidance was helpful along with the others mentioned above & below, and certainly, Elbert Lowder from Sanford was in his hay day as a championship player. Truitt took over from Melvin Lindley in 69 and served as District 4 manager until his age began to hinder his performance so he convinced Pickard he should run for ACF D4 manager, and was elected in 1977. Clint encouraged Larry Michael to run for District 4 manager in 1998 to replace himself, so Larry was elected District Manager in 1999. Clint worked with ACF President Homer Calkins who replaced Dale Heath in 67 and Les Balderson replaced Homer in 1986, and Alan Millhone replaced Les in 2003. During Clint's 20+ years of service as our D4 manager he build and promoting checkers in North Carolina and the ACF. He also served as treasurer of North Carolina Checker Association from 1987 to 2004. During the 70 & 80s when Clint was promoting checker so much in Sanford, he brought the US Nationals to Sanford, North Carolina four times (76,77,79,81) and helped also to bring it to Greensboro in 1997.

Deceased NC Tournament Players  |  Deceased Tournament Players