Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo By Rick Patrick, December 7, 2016
Mark Buescher (left) presented a birthday cake to William B. “Jargo” Clark, Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, on the occasion of Clark's 99th birthday.
Rick Patrick, Greene Publishing, Inc.
Wednesday, Dec. 7 was a very special day for William B. “Jargo” Clark, Jr. Not only was it Clark’s 99th birthday (that alone was reason to celebrate), but it was also the day that Clark was honored for all he has accomplished in his long and fruitful life.
At the meeting of the Madison Rotary Club, Clark was greeted with a proclamation of “Jargo Clark Day” in Madison by Mayor Jim Catron. Clark also received birthday greetings from Gov. Rick Scott, Sen. Bill Nelson, and Rep. Halsey Beshears. Throughout the meeting, club members paid tribute to one of the charter members of the local club. In December of 1948, Clark along with several other local business leaders chartered the local service club. Clark has been a faithful Rotarian since that time. In 1987-88 Clark served as District Governor for the local Rotary International Club. During Clark’s term as District Governor, the Rotary Club became co-ed when the Supreme Court ruled that Rotary International must allow women to become members. During Clark’s term, Rotary International also launched their worldwide fight to eradicate the devastating disease, polio.
Clark spent much of his professional working life with the old Van H. Priest Company. Long before Wal-Mart and Target, the Van H. Priest Company had numerous “5 and 10 cent stores” scattered throughout North Florida and South Georgia. Clark's involvement with Van H. Priest allowed him to travel around the North Florida and South Georgia area. It was while traveling for the Priest stores that he visited the Perry Rotary Club. This contact led directly to the formation of the Madison Rotary Club.
Clark was also instrumental in the growth of the Southern Scholarship Foundation. The Southern Scholarship Foundation was begun to give scholarships to deserving young people in the form of rent free housing at many schools and universities throughout the state. In 1975, Clark served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Southern Scholarship Foundation. Clark has also been a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Madison for many years.
Madison has been very fortunate to have had leaders like “Jargo” Clark over the decades. As long as there are men like Clark to serve as inspiration for the rest of us there will be others who follow his example; and we will all be the better for it.