Clarke Bynum
Encyclopedia
Clarke Bynum, whose full name was Henry Clarke Bynum Jr., (died September 3, 2007) was an American
basketball
player for the Clemson Tigers
. However, Bynum was best known and best remembered for helping to stop a plane hijacking
in 2000.
A McDonald's All-American at Wilson Hall in Sumter, South Carolina
, Bynum played for the Clemson Tigers at Clemson University
from 1980 to 1984. He was 6 foot 7 inches tall. He averaged five points and two rebounds during his four seasons with the Tigers. Bynum was an All-Academic in the Atlantic Coast Conference
during his senior year. Bynum took a job with his family's insurance
business following his graduation from Clemson. He later served as chairman of his high school
alma mater
, Wilson Hall
. He remains Wilson Hall's school's all-time basketball scoring leader.
Bynum is best known for subduing a passenger
who broke into the cockpit
of a British Airways
plane with 398 passengers in December 2000. The passenger had attacked the plane's pilot and grabbed the controls, sending the British Airways
plane into two nose-dives. Bynum and several other passengers managed to break into the cockpit and restrained the man until the plane could land.
Bynum received the Order of the Palmetto
, South Carolina
's highest honor, for his bravery in subduing the man with the help of other passengers. He was also awarded presidential commendation by Clemson University in 2001.
Clarke Bynum died on September 3, 2007, in Sumter, South Carolina
, at the age of 45, after a long battle with cancer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
. However, Bynum was best known and best remembered for helping to stop a plane hijacking
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
in 2000.
A McDonald's All-American at Wilson Hall in Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
, Bynum played for the Clemson Tigers at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1980 to 1984. He was 6 foot 7 inches tall. He averaged five points and two rebounds during his four seasons with the Tigers. Bynum was an All-Academic in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
during his senior year. Bynum took a job with his family's insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business following his graduation from Clemson. He later served as chairman of his high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Wilson Hall
Wilson Hall
Wilson Hall may refer to:*Wilson Hall , listed on the NRHP in Maine*Wilson Hall-Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR, listed on the NRHP in Arkansas*Wilson Hall, a member of music group God's Pottery...
. He remains Wilson Hall's school's all-time basketball scoring leader.
Bynum is best known for subduing a passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
who broke into the cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
of a British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
plane with 398 passengers in December 2000. The passenger had attacked the plane's pilot and grabbed the controls, sending the British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
plane into two nose-dives. Bynum and several other passengers managed to break into the cockpit and restrained the man until the plane could land.
Bynum received the Order of the Palmetto
Order of the Palmetto
The Order of the Palmetto is the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. It is awarded to persons who make contributions of statewide significance. An auxiliary honor is "The Order of the Silver Crescent." Today it is awarded to persons who make community or professional...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
's highest honor, for his bravery in subduing the man with the help of other passengers. He was also awarded presidential commendation by Clemson University in 2001.
Clarke Bynum died on September 3, 2007, in Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
-Demographics:, there were 59,180 people, 34,717 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 4,469.5 people per square mile . There were 416,032 housing units at an average density of 603.0 per square mile...
, at the age of 45, after a long battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.