Clark, H. B.

H. B. Clark was born on March 12, 1874 in Grandview, Texas to Mr. and Mrs. J. O. A. Clark, and spent his formative years in Stephenville, Texas. He married Mary Baker on December 21, 1896. They had two sons: Jim P. Clark (d.1961) and Claude C. Clark (d.1963).

Four of H. B. Clark’s brothers became Methodist ministers: Rev. W. W. Clark, Rev. J. W. Clark, Rev. C. A. Clark, and Rev. O. P. Clark. H. B. Clark entered the ministry in 1904, serving the Cisco Circuit as supply pastor. Beginning in 1905, Rev. Clark served forty-one continuous years as an itinerant preacher in the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (1905-1939) and the Methodist Church (1939-1946).

Ten years after retiring, H. B. Clark died in Arlington, Texas on April 7, 1956. Rev. Chet C. Henson eulogized Clark in the 1956 Central Texas Conference Journal with these words: "Everywhere H. B. Clark lived he was loved and appreciated. He was indeed a devoted and humble servant of the Lord; hence his labors of sacrifice and service shall not be in vain, but will brighten through all eternity."

Sources:

Henson, Chet C. "H. B. Clark." Central Texas Conference Journal, 1956, p. 140.

"Pioneer Methodist Minister, Rev. H. B. Clark, Dies at 82." Dallas Morning News, 8 April 1956, p. 14.

From the guide to the H. B. Clark ministerial papers BridArch 303. 03., 1905-1946, (Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University)