Clown Alley Black History Month: Reggie Montgomery

 

Reggie Montgomery was the first African American graduate of the Ringling Clown College in 1968. He toured with Ringling for the 1969 tour, before the show became the Red and Blue Units.

Learn about Reggie and his life in Don Hepner's book Reggie: Ringling's First Black Clown. 

Clown Alley Black History Month: Preston Crawford

 

Preston Crawford attended the Ringling Clown College in 1982 and toured with the Blue Unit in 1983 and 1984.

Photo courtesy of Mark Renfro.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Lem Fillyaw

 

Lem Fillyaw attended the Ringling Clown College in 1993 in Baraboo, WI. I know he toured with the Kelly Miller Circus in 1996, but I am not sure about the years between CC and KM.

Photo courtesy of Mark Renfro.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Willie Yeomans

 

Willie Yeomans graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1982. He spent two years with the Blue Unit in 1983 and 1984, and then he replaced a clown midway through the 1985 Red Unit season. He also performed in Japan with the Gold Unit in Japan in 1988.

I met Willie in 2003 in Washington D.C. where he was working as a nurse. That was the last I have heard from him.

Thank you to Mark Renfro for the photo.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Dean Anderson

Dean Anderson attended Ringling Clown College in 1986. I met him in NYC while I was touring with Ringling, but I am not sure what he has been up to since then.

Thank you to Mark Renfro for the photo.

Clown Alley Black History Month: Bill Forchion

Bill Forchion graduated from the Ringling Clown College in 1988 and toured with the Gold Unit in Japan in 1989 and the Red Unit in 1990.

He has also performed with the Pickle Family Circus and Cirque Du Soliel, and taught at Circus Smirkus and NECCA. 

Thank you to Mark Renfro for the photo.