[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4913]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          DR. M. GRAHAM CLARK

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, today I would pay tribute to Dr. M. 
Graham Clark, of Point Lookout, MO, who died earlier this month and 
will be sadly missed by his family and all of us who were privileged to 
be counted among his friends.
  Dr. Clark was a tremendous educator, businessman and community 
leader. He came to what was then known as the School of the Ozarks in 
1946, a high school, as vice-president and became its president in 
1952.
  On his watch of nearly a half century, the institution grew from a 
high school into a junior college and then a four-year college, and was 
brought into regional accreditation. Dr. Clark was proud, and 
deservedly so, of the fact that the College was accredited even before 
it issued its first full degree. The school Dr. Clark built was also 
nationally recognized for its adherence to Christian principles and the 
strong work ethic of its students. He viewed the school as his mission, 
and tirelessly raised funds for its improvement, even when he was well 
into his eighties.
  During his more than 50 years of service to College of the Ozarks, 
and to all of Southwest Missouri, Dr. Clark touched millions of 
people's lives. His leadership will be remembered for generations to 
come. Those who knew him best know that his commitment and love of the 
College was second only to his dedication to his Lord and Savior, and 
to his family.
  Our culture is quick to glorify the here and now, the ``flash in the 
pan'' celebrities, the ``cause'' of the day. By that measure, Clark 
stood apart. While he could no doubt have made a fortune in the for-
profit sector, he devoted his considerable intellectual and business 
skills to the work of building a top-notch educational institution. He 
was a strong Christian who never hid nor apologized for his beliefs. He 
spent his entire life making life better for young people in the Ozark 
region, his family, his church,and his community. His love for others 
knew no social boundaries. We are in his debt, and remember him 
fondly.

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