University of San Francisco Athletics

Joseph R. Clerou was born on August 28, 1919, the youngest of eight children to the immigrant parents, Louis and Lucie Clerou. He was raised in East Bakersfield where he attended St. Josephs School. He graduated from Kern High School and the University of San Francisco where he played football for both schools. He graduated in Economics in 1941. In June 1941, he was commissioned as an officer into the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific with five major landings during WWII and again during the Korean War. After the war he went into the tire business. He and his brother, Louie, established the Clerou Tire Co. that his sons still run today (BakersfieldCalifornian).