A 6'4" (1.93 m) small forward born in Duluth, Minnesota and from Naperville High School in Illinois, Clawson played at the University of Michigan, where his team won three Big Ten Conference titles and participated in two NCAA Final Fours.

Clawson then represented the United States at the 1967 Pan American Games and the 1968 Summer Olympics, earning gold medals in basketball at both events.

He also played for the United States men's national basketball team at the 1967 FIBA World Championship.

After his basketball career ended, Clawson worked at Merrill Lynch and as a high school teacher in Danville, California.

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1940s is a stub.