When Clarence Crain speaks, it’s with the quiet conviction of someone who has spent decades in service, not for accolades, but for impact.
A trailblazer in both corporate and civic life, Crain’s contributions span from General Motors to the boardroom of Lilly Endowment, Inc., and onto the hardwood courts of Butler University. Yet, when asked what drives him, his answer is simple: “Any young person I see—at church, in a drive-thru, anywhere—I try to give them a word of encouragement. You never know when that word might turn someone’s life around.”
Clarence Crain’s journey with the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis began not with a formal invitation but with a call to action from two friends and fellow changemakers, Jerry Harkness and Moses Gray. What started as volunteer help—organizing a basketball game and securing Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse—soon evolved into a decades-long leadership legacy within The 100.
“The mission always spoke to me,” Crain said. “Helping young people, especially young men in our schools, was a cause I couldn’t ignore.”
Crain became a key architect behind the organization’s early programming, including its innovative Scholastic Basketball and Track Initiatives. The concept blended mentorship, academics, and athletics in a unique way: students’ behavior and classroom performance influenced their starting points in the weekly games and competition on the court and track. It was a simple but powerful formula: success on the court started with success in school.
“It changed the atmosphere in the schools,” Crain recalled. “Parents came out. Teachers came out. Students were excited not just to play, but to do well enough academically that they could play.”
That momentum spread, turning The 100’s programs into cornerstones of community support across the city. From academic mentoring to financial literacy and the Summer Academy and African American History Challenge, Crain was there, often behind the scenes, organizing, coaching, and mentoring.
Even after stepping back from direct programming, Crain didn’t slow down. He began mentoring the mentors—offering guidance, encouragement, and wisdom to the next generation of Black male leaders serving Indianapolis youth.
Crain’s passion for service was shaped early on by another unsung hero: Jesse Taylor, the custodian at IPS School 36, who unofficially mentored generations of young men through church leagues and community gym access.
“Mr. Taylor was the first person who showed me that you don’t have to have a big title to make a big difference,” Crain said. “He was always there for us—on the playground, in the gym, in the hallways. And I’ve tried to live by that same principle ever since.”
From that early influence, Crain went on to officiate high school basketball for 19 years, often reminding coaches, “I’m out here for the students.” That same ethos carried into every role he’s held—committee chair, vice president, president, and now, elder statesman within The 100.
But perhaps his most incredible legacy is the ripple effect he has created: students who have grown into leaders, parents reconnected to their children through shared learning, and mentors inspired by his quiet leadership.
In 2024, Butler University recognized Crain with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2021, he was named to the Board of Directors for Lilly Endowment, further expanding his impact on civic life in Indiana. Yet his roots in community mentorship remain central.
“The 100 is about showing up,” he said. “About being present—whether it’s at Saturday mentoring, the Beautillion, or just in a hallway conversation that helps a young person see their potential.”
Crain believes the organization’s work is more urgent than ever, as traditional neighborhood bonds and school-based communities continue to fragment. “What The 100 creates,” he said, “is a bridge. A new kind of community where our young people can see what’s possible.”
The phrase “What they see is what they’ll be” isn’t just a motto for Crain—it’s a mission. And thanks to his steady presence, hundreds of young people in Indianapolis have seen something greater in themselves.