He is 94 and still speaks without notes to large, important crowds. There is no need for notes when the entire history of Kentucky is in your head. Women are still tender young lasses to Mr. Clark.
Manual typewriters are still indispensable.
This may be Thomas Clark's greatest quality. He's never given up on his adopted home, never lost his good cheer. As Kentucky's most important and beloved historian, he still speaks regularly to large groups, stitching together remarkable stories that simultaneously celebrate the state and lament its shortcomings. Mr. Clark will turn 95 this summer. He's taught at numerous universities and written more than 14 books, including the Kentucky history that was standard for 60 years.