River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-12-18
Special Assembly for Professor Clark

Sembly the students, faculty and alum
nj Of the River Falls Normal School
had an opportunity to express their
appreciation and regard for Mr.. Clark
and his untiring service to the state,
the Normal School, and the communi-
ty. The program opened with an ap-
propriate orchestra selection.
President Ames' Announcement
In formally announcing Mr.. Clark's
retirement from the faculty of the
Normal school, President Ames spoke
in part as follows:
Perhaps no teacher in Wisconsin
has been more widely and better
known than Professor Clark. He
came to the River Falls Normal
School in 1892, from the position Of
State Inspector of High Schools for
Wisconsin. His period of service in
this institution extends over a period
of nearly thirty years. Thousands of
young men and women have passed
through his classes and from thence
into the public schools of this and 9th
er states.
It is within the truth to say that no
other single influence in this school,
with the possible exception of IFS
first president, w. D. Parker, has
impressed itself firmly upon SO large
a number of students and upon the
institution, as has the influence from
the work of Professor Clark. This is
true not only because Of the many
years of his service. and because of
the large number of students with
whom he has dealt, but more largely
from the fact that Mr.. Clark's per-
sonality and character is such as to
impress itself strongly upon all.
1t is profitable to inquire into the
reasons for the strong and lasting i'm
pressions made by this teacher. Men
impress themselves upon the times in
which they live and upon others, diff
ferently. Some cause themselves to
be remembered because of the possess
ion of some unusual talent or ability;
others win excessive popularity which
cause them long to be remembered
by the bestowal of favors and gratui-
ties. Over against such qualities as
these I should like you to consider for
moment the influences which have
flowed from Mr. Clark's life and work,
and which have made the man and
teacher, L. H. Clark, stand out so
firmly in the lives of so many people.
Mr.. Clark's life has stood for honest
work. / have never known more
| faithful and conscientious worker. No
trouble has ever been too great for
him to take in the interests of his
classes. Every task and duty has
ALWAYS been promptly and efficiently
executed. To this day no teacher in
the school is quite as prompt ard &C
curate in the performance of ali dut-
les as is Mr.. Clark. Mr.. Clark has
always placed his work, his duty, first.
My friends, this ever present example
of fidelity to duty through all Of these
years of service has had an in 1uence
in this institution greater thar we can
now calculate.
While Mr.. Clark has not the college
degrees that many men boast, yet he
is one of the most scholarly men in
the school. Few, indeed, have read as
widely as he. Possessing the natural
instinct of scholar, his reading and
study have extended over vast range
of such matter. His mind has become
great store-house of knowledge. His
studies have carried him far into the
field of History, Literature and
Science, until his scholarship in these
fields fairly rivals that of many a
specialist. Perhaps as result of his
own very accurate scholarship, Mr.
Clark has always held high the ideals
of sound scholarship in this school.
There has never been concern felt for
the reputation of the school when
Icredits from the Mathematics Depart
lment were up for consideration. So
iDrec1So mas DGeu MI. CldIk , kllON
ledge of his subject, so conscientious
has he been in the performance of his
work as teacher, so keen has he been
in the study of the art of teaching
that his department has stood out for
its excellence.
This brief summary of Professor
Clark's work in our school would be
quite incomplete without mentioning
his part in the administration of the
school. For many years he has acted
as Vice President and as Chairman of
the Committee of General Adnlinistra-
ton. He has had large influence
upon the schools organization and
policies.
/ Mr.. Clark's resignation is a loss to
the school which cannot be repaired.
The change of occupation which his
plans contemplate, will renew his
YOUTH. Some men, when they come to
1.-THE end when they must give over the