A. James Clark

Alfred James Clark (December 2, 1927 – March 20, 2015) was an American engineer, businessman and philanthropist. He was chairman and CEO of Clark Enterprises, Inc.,[1] headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. The company's largest subsidiary is Clark Construction Group, LLC,[2] one of the United States' largest construction companies, founded in 1906 as the George Hyman Construction Company.

A. James Clark
Born
Alfred James Clark

December 2, 1927
Richmond, Virginia, US
DiedMarch 20, 2015(2015-03-20) (aged 87)
Easton, Maryland, US
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Maryland
Children3

Early life

Clark was born on December 2, 1927, in Richmond, Virginia, US, the son of a life insurance salesman father. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland.[3]

Clark was a 1950 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta.[4]

Career

In 1950, he was hired by the George Hyman Construction Company. In 1969, he became president. In 1977, he formed OMNI Construction, a double-breasted subsidiary.[5][6]

In addition to being an engineer and business executive, Clark served as a university trustee emeritus at Johns Hopkins University.

Philanthropy

Clark has given to the University of Maryland, College Park's School of Engineering, which now bears his name.

He established the A. James Clark Engineering Scholars program at the University of Virginia,[7] George Washington University,[8] Duke University, Vanderbilt University, Penn State and Virginia Tech.

He donated $10 million toward the construction of the Johns Hopkins University building, "Clark Hall," which is the cornerstone of the Decker Quadrangle. His construction company served as general contractor for the building, which was named in his honor.[9] Also at Johns Hopkins University, He sponsored the Clark Scholars Program to fund undergraduate scholarships with a focus on leadership and service learning.[10]

On October 4, 2017, it was announced the University of Maryland would receive almost $220 million from the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation.[11]

Personal life

In 1950, Clark married to Alice Bratton.[3] He had three children and lived in Vero Beach, Florida.[12] He died of congestive heart failure in 2015.[3]James leaves behind his self wife and two previous sons Thomas J Clark and William E Clark as his and heir apparent.

Awards and honors
  • Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1987)[13]
  • The University of Maryland honorary doctor of engineering degree, the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award, and induction into the University of Maryland Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame[14]

References
  1. "About Us". Clarkenterprisesinc.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-29. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  2. "Clark Construction Group - Building and Civil Construction". Clarkconstruction.com. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  3. Bernstein, Adam (20 March 2015). "A. James Clark, who built empire of concrete and glass, dies at 87". Washington Post. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. "UMD Mourns Passing of Benefactor and Alumnus A. James Clark". eng.umd.edu. 2015-03-20. p. University of Maryland School of Engineering. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  5. Penfield, Robert V. (February 1976). "The Double-Breasted Operation in the Construction Industry". Labor Law Journal. 27 (2): 89.
  6. Roberts, Sam (March 23, 2015). "A. James Clark, 'King of Concrete' Who Built Arenas, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  7. "NeW $30 Million Clark Scholars Program Supports Underrepresented Engineering Students". UVAToday. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. "$8 Million Gift Launches Engineering Scholars Program". GW MAgazine. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. "Construction executive, Johns Hopkins trustee emeritus A. James Clark dies at 87". JHU Hub. March 21, 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  10. "Clark Scholars Program". Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  11. "University of Maryland to receive $219.5 million donation — the largest in its history". The Diamondback. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  12. "Alfred James Clark". Forbes. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  13. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  14. "Who was A. James Clark?". The University of Maryland.
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