To: All Staff Members
From: J. W. Maucker, President
Date: June 27, 1969
Dr. James R. Clark, Professor of Physical Education for Men, passed away at Sartori Hospital on Thursday, June 26, 1969, following a heart attack. Dr. Clark was born in St. Peter, Minnesota, in 1905. He received the B .A. degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1927, and the M. A. and Ph. D. degrees from George Peabody College for Teachers, the latter in 1950.
In 1949, while teaching at Mankato State College, he accepted an invitation to join the staff at the University of Northern Iowa with the rank of associate professor. He was advanced to the rank of professor in 1955 and was appointed administrative assistant in the Department of Physical Education for Men in 1960. Dr. Clark had been a member of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Eduction, and Recreation, and the College Physical Education Association. He had served as a member of the U. N .I. Campus Planning Committee since 1966.
The Nottger Funeral Home in Cedar Falls is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, at St. Timothy's United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, with burial in the cemetery at Mankato, Minnesota. The flag will be flown at half-mast, and the Campanile bells will be played during the time of the funeral service in memory of Dr. Clark. Memorials for the James Clark Memorial Fund may be made through the U. N. I. Foundation.
Statement form the UNI School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, August 3, 1982
In 1949 Dr. James R. Clark joined the University of Northern Iowa (then known as Iowa State Teachers College) faculty after having served at Mankato State College in Mankato, Minnesota. He was head golf coach and also assisted in football, basketball, and track. From 1964 until his death June 26, 1969, he served as administrative assistant in charge of undergraduate and graduate professional education programs in the Department of Physical Education.
He was both professionally and personally visible across campus by his involvement and willingness to accept leadership responsibilities. He was a "take charge" type of individual who was instrumental in the development of both teaching and non-teaching degree programs in physical education, which served as a foundation to present major and minor undergraduate degree programs of study. He was instrumental in the development and administration of the first graduate degree program in physical education, from its inception through the decade of the 1960s.
Professor Clark was an active member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Iowa Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; College Physical Education Association; and Phi Delta Kappa.
As a concerned faculty member and citizen, Dr. Clark provided leadership to the institution and community through numerous committee appointments, some of which included: UNI Campus Planning Committee, College of Education Faculty Senate, Graduate Committee, president of Cedar Falls City Recreation Commission, supervisor of summer baseball and golf youth programs, and chairman of the UNI Recreation arid Golf Committee.
Those who worked closely with Dr. Clark admired his interest and contributions to the department, the University of Northern Iowa, and the allied fields of health, physical education, and recreation. He contributed much to the lives of young men and women who entered the coaching/teaching profession.
He was a personable man with strong convictions, who had the ability to speak to them, yet still possessed the unique capability to listen to the ideas of others. He acted as an academic "watch dog" in the establishment of standards acceptable to the profession and fitting of his own beliefs. He often served as a mediator between physical education and athletics in an attempt to maintain a proper balance for those student-athletes and faculty involved.
Dr. Clark served as an educational consultant and worked extensively in the public schools in the areas of curriculum development, facilities design, and program evaluation. His professional efforts while at the University of Northern Iowa--teaching, coaching, and administration--span three decades. His institutional loyalty, personal dedication, professional insight, and ability to deal with the changing needs and demands of education have made the University and its many programs better today because of a man who "cared."