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<em>Robert (Bob) Clark</em> was born in Kemper County, Mississippi on 20 January 1920 and reared in Philadelphia, Mississippi. In high school he was student council president and quarterback for the Philadelphia Tornadoes during a time when quarterbacks could call their own plays.</p>
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Shortly after school, as soon as he was eligible, he joined the Army and served his first hitch in Panama. There, he was selected to attend the Army Prep School and was accepted at USMA in June 1940. He was graduated with the first three-year class as a US Army pilot on 1 June 1943. This was a fast start for all, but nothing was too fast for Bob. From Beast Barracks until graduation, he made and kept many good friends and was always the southern country gentleman.</p>
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After training in the B-26, he was sent to Europe. On 28 July 1944, while flying his 58th mission, Bob was shot down and taken prisoner by the Germans. Those who were with him as a prisoner praised his character and his ability to provide strong leadership even under undesirable conditions. It never got too rough for Bob, and he always found the time to help others through their adversities.</p>
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After V-E Day, Bob returned home and settled into a new assignment. It was then that he renewed his relationship with Priscilla Stowe of Hastings-On-Hudson, New York, whom he had met during cadet days. This love ripened and they were married on 6 April 1946. They reared and educated two sons, Rob and David, while their marriage glowed with success and happiness. Bob, whose fair-mindedness, compassion and good humor permeated all facets of his life, was the devoted loving husband, father of two sons and grandfather of four grandsons.</p>
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During the 1950’s, Bob served in various command and staff positions including an assignment in Okinawa as an F-86 squadron commander. After graduation from the Air War College in 1960, he served a tour in Vietnam as deputy chief, Air Force Section, MAAG. Then followed a long stay in Washington, DC with the Air Staff, Joint Staff and the Department of State. These were all difficult jobs in precarious times. Bob brought to these key positions his usual and customary dedication, integrity, perseverance and friendly persuasion. He was next assigned as commander, Tuslog Det. 10, Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey, flying F-100’s and F-4’s, a job that required more finesse and patience than most, and Bob had these attributes in spades.</p>
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From Turkey, Bob was assigned to Maxwell AFB as area commandant of AFROTC. Although this was his final assignment before retirement, he continued to diligently apply his skills, experience and knowledge to improve the education of future Air Force officers.</p>
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Among his medals, Colonel Clark was awarded the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal.</p>
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Upon retirement in Montgomery, Alabama, Bob injected into that community all of his wonderful traits of character. Bob was straightforward in his approach to any aspect of life. There was no uncertainty in his opinion about what was right or wrong. If he told you something, you could put it in the bank.</p>
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We never heard him say a demeaning or mean thing about anybody. He loved his fellow man and always emphasized the good in a person. Bob had the courage to fight for the right. He went out of his way to make friends and to endear himself to all. He was kind, generous and helpful as a neighbor and friend, and compassionate and helpful to anyone sick or in trouble. As he lived his life, Bob was the highest example of a West Point cadet and an officer in the United States Air Force.</p>
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He engaged in several entrepreneurial endeavors and was an avid reader, golfer and football fan. He had many friends. His productive life was cut short by cancer. Although he put up a good fight, Bob succumbed on 6 July 1989. Dr. Karl K. Stegall, senior minister, First United Methodist Church of Montgomery, closed his eulogy for Bob with: “to each of us, Bob Clark has thrown the torch of Duty, Honor and Country. Let us hold that torch high as we celebrate the good memory of his life.”</p>
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As Bob joins the Long Gray Line, he does so with our greatest respect and our warmest personal admiration.</p>
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<em>his classmates</em></p>