Meadowlark Lemon dies

George Lemon III, known professionally as "Meadowlark" Lemon, died on December 27, 2015, at the age of 83.

Lemon was a basketball player, actor, and minister. For 22 years, Lemon was known as the "Clown Prince" of the touring Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. He played in more than 16,000 games for the Globetrotters and was a 2003 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

When basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain was asked his opinion on the best player of all time, he responded, "Believe it or not, Meadowlark Lemon."

George Lemon III was born in Wilmington, North Carolina and attended Williston Industrial School, graduating in 1952. He also attended Florida A&M University, but was soon drafted into the United States Army, serving for two years.

Lemon first applied to the Globetrotters in 1954 at age 22, finally being chosen to play in 1955. He played with the Globetrotters until 1980

Meadowlark Lemon had 10 children: Richard, George, Beverly, Donna, Robin, Jonathan, Jamison, Angela, Crystal and Caleb.

A born-again Christian, Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1988.