A one-way ratchet overrunning clutch includes first and second concentric races, the first race having pockets configured to contain pawls, each pocket including a boss having an exterior convex surface defining an arc of about 180°. Each pawl is supported on one boss, and is adapted to ratchet about the boss to selectively lock the races together. Each pawl has a J-shaped body including a pair of legs joined by a hook portion that with one of the legs defines a concave surface. The concave surface is configured to partially engage a complementary exterior convex surface of a corresponding boss, and the concave surface defines an arc ranging from 90° to at least 150° adapted to circumscribe an identical range of the convex surface of the corresponding boss. The interactive convex and concave surfaces of respective pawl and boss elements provide an effective pawl retention system under centrifugal forces.