Life After Prostate Cancer Series: Prostate Cancer Survivor William C. Clemons—’Bring on the Pickleball!’

Story and photos by Walter Pritchard, TEN Media

The thrill of athletic competition and victory is alive and well in William C. Clemons and it refuses to retire. For when it comes to playing pickleball, all he can says is “bring it on!”

“Hey William. Good to see you today. You ready get it on?” the greeting he received on a recent Friday morning from enthusiastic players – mostly senior men and women - on the indoor pickleball court at the Ferguson Recreation Center.

“Come on y’all, let’s go,” he says, with game face in place as he adjusts his athletic suit, takes his paddle out of its bag, does a few legs and arm stretches and eagerly heads to the court to get in on the action.

Pickleball is fun, social, and friendly. The rules are simple, and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a fast-paced, competitive game. The game combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong and is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.

Pickleball is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, as doubles or singles, and can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels. Pickleball has evolved from original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout the US and Canada. The game is growing internationally as well, with many European and Asian countries adding courts.

An avid tennis fan who regularly played that sport back in his younger days, pickleball has been in his repertoire since last fall. A friend of his invited him to a game, brought him a paddle and balls, and it was on, he says.

“I’m in the learning stage,” he says, “It’s a fun game. It takes a little skill that you have to work at just like basketball, swimming and other sports. But anybody can play. It is fun.”

William, 79, is a 15-year prostate cancer survivor. He became a member of The Empowerment Network after his niece, Tammie Williams, made him aware of the organization. “She was looking out for her number 1 uncle,” he says, flashing a hearty smile. 

He is active in the organization, having led the midweek online “Hour of Power Prayer Meetings” during the pandemic. He is a member of the TEN speakers bureau that conducts health fairs and is on the TEN prayer team that visits hospitalized prostate cancer survivors after surgeries.

With a fan club on the court, he also has pickleball fans off the court, too. William’s affinity with pickleball became part of his 79^th birthday celebration last September. His wife, Karen, who were married May 24, 2020, in an outdoor wedding at New Northside Baptist Church due to the pandemic, has a sister that is a creative cake maker.

His sister-in-law, Lila Payne, made a decorative cake in the shape of the pickleball court, complete with a paddle, balls and in living color, and is delicious and totally edible. 

“I didn’t recognize it when I first saw it. I didn’t pay it any attention as it sat on the table,” he says. “All of sudden it hit me, ‘bam’ like, ‘what the…’, ” he says with endearing laughter. “It sho’nuff was good.”