Clifford Meely

Cliff Meely, 65, of Boulder, died on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Boulder Community Hospital. A Celebration of Cliff's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, at Folsom Field Stadium Club, 2400 Colorado Ave., Boulder. Cliff was born on July 10, 1947 in Rosedale, Mississippi to Henry McGown and Marie Elliott (Duncan) Meely. He attended Harlan High School in Chicago, Illinois. Cliff then went to Northeastern Junior College for a year before transferring to the University of Colorado in 1968 and playing three years of basketball for the CU Buffaloes. He was one of the greatest scorers and rebounders in the history of CU basketball, still holding records for career leader in points per game and rebounds per game. Cliff was a Big Eight all-conference performer all three years at Colorado and was a first team All American as a senior. His jersey number 20, which he wore at CU from 1968 - 1971, is one of only two retired by the CU basketball program. Late Colorado coach Russell "Sox" Walseth called Meely "the most complete player I have ever coached." Cliff will be truly missed and forever remembered by the entire Boulder and CU Buffalo community. More important to Cliff than his basketball career was his education. He told the Denver Post in March, "My greatest achievement was getting a degree." Cliff earned the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award, given each year by the American National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to recognize six distinguished former student-athletes on their 25th anniversary as college graduates. He spent his professional career as a counselor in the field of education. Cliff is survived by his sons Tordell Meely (Annemarie) of Valparaiso, IN and Jamil Garrett (Jana Uzel) of Atlanta, GA; daughter Nemika Meely of Dallas, TX; sisters Patricia Meely of Augusta, GA and Beverly Meely of Augusta, GA; 13 grandchildren; former wives Cynthia Meely of Houston, TX and Arlinda Garrett of Huntsville, AL; numerous friends and relatives. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clifford B. Meely Memorial Fund to provide support for Men and Women's Basketball at the University of Colorado Boulder. Donations may be sent to the Clifford B. Meely Memorial Fund c/o University of Colorado Foundation, 4740 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80301 or online at http://www.cufund.org/giving-opportunities/memorial-funds/.