Finding Inspiration on the Field, And in the Home

Word of the week . . . Inspiration.

It has a myriad of meanings such as “a person who has an uplifting influence,” “a role model who has the characteristics of a mentor” or “a famous person, typically successful or much-publicized.” I have come to know an impressive young man that checks all of the boxes above – hometown hero and Hoosier athletic legend, Clayton Richard.  

A native of Lafayette, Clayton was unparalleled in high school sports as well as academics. He is the only person in Indiana history to win both Mr. Football and Mr. Baseball in the same year. He subsequently was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Just a few  of the many reasons I believe him to be such a standup, standout kind of guy.

Clayton shared with me that he accepted a scholarship to play both football and baseball at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2003. His foremost career choice – football – took a detour when he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox baseball organization and the rest is history.

I first came to know Clayton as my son-in-law Cory’s lifelong best friend and teammate at McCutcheon High School. I have since witnessed him both on and off the field. He excels in both arenas. 

This legendary leftie left his mark in Major League Baseball by not only gracing the White Sox, but also the Chicago Cubs, the San Diego Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays. He retired from baseball in 2019, but football was still in his blood. 

Clayton left the professional limelight and returned to his hometown as the quarterback coach for Lafayette Jefferson High School. Subsequently, he was named as the head baseball coach at Jeff later that year.

As impressive as this all is, what really gave me goosebumps was when Clayton talked of his own inspiration – which started at home. His home, in his backyard, where his dad built a makeshift ballpark in their backyard. Living just a block from Columbia Park, home to the international Colt World Series and various minor league baseball teams over the years, Clayton had a front row seat and a penchant for pitching from a very early age. He shared that his baseball hero as a child was Ken Griffey, Jr. – someone he really looked up to and wanted to be. However, now as an adult and father of three, his heroes, hands down, are his parents, who selflessly sacrificed everything for the happiness and future of their children.

Thirteen years into fatherhood and seven years into retirement from the Big Leagues, Clayton’s foremost focus is his own young family and his enterprising business, Captain Spiffy (golf carts), born out of a garage, in partnership with former professional and collegiate baseball teammate, Tyson Scheumann. 

I could go on and on about this man who serves as the utmost role model for future generations. Nevertheless, I’ll leave you with the lasting impression he left with me before our conversation came to a close. Bottom line, he said, his life now centers on his wife and life at home with his children, leading his family to make the best life decisions, as did his parents. 

So…“inspiration” or “legacy?” I say Clayton hits them both out of the ballpark!

Can You Relate is a column from Noblesville High School grad Branna (McCarty) Shores. Branna believes that “HOME is where your story begins.” A Noblesville native and proud alum of NHS and Purdue, she is a professional speaker, advocate for mental health and work / family balance and retired social worker. Branna is the mother of two grown daughters, six precious grandchildren and wife of one brave husband! Her passions include singing, writing and sharing the lighter side of life through lessons learned, both personally and professionally. She can be contacted at branna18@gmail.com