Barzilla W. Clark

Barzilla Worth Clark (December 22, 1880 – September 21, 1943) was an American politician from Idaho. He served as the 16th governor of Idaho (1937–1939), mayor of Idaho Falls, and was a member of the Idaho Democratic Party.[1]

Barzilla Clark
Idaho Falls Post-Register, 1943.
16th Governor of Idaho
In office
January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939
LieutenantCharles C. Gossett
Preceded byC. Ben Ross
Succeeded byC. A. Bottolfsen
Mayor of Idaho Falls
In office
1926–1936
In office
1913–1915
Personal details
Born
Barzilla Worth Clark

(1880-12-22)December 22, 1880
Hendricks County, Indiana
DiedSeptember 21, 1943(1943-09-21) (aged 62)
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Resting placeRose Hill Cemetery,
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Ethel Salome Peck Clark
(m. 1905–1943, his death)
Children4
ProfessionCivil engineer

Early life and education

Clark was born in Hadley, Indiana, the son of Eunice (Hadley) and Joseph Addison Clark.[2] Clark made the journey to eastern Idaho by narrow-gauge railroad in 1885 with his family to Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls). He attended Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute, Indiana, but left school due to a lung injury during track and field practice.[3]

Career

After leaving school, Clark returned to Idaho and engaged in farming, mining, and cattle raising. On October 26, 1905, he married Ethel Salome Peck,[4] and they had four children.

Clark became a licensed engineer in 1905 and worked as a civil engineer. His reservoir on the Blackfoot River was purchased by the government and his plan for impounding Lost River was merged into Mackay Dam.[5] After two terms as councilman, he served as mayor of Idaho Falls from 1913 to 1915 and again from 1926 to 1936. During this term, the city built the Municipal Hydroelectric Plant No. 1.[6]

Clark's interest turned to Idaho mines until he was again elected mayor of Idaho Falls in 1927 and served until his inauguration as governor on January 4, 1937.[7][8][9] During his two-year term, a state tuberculosis hospital was authorized, a judicious pardon and parole system was installed, and junior college districts were created.

Clark lost the Democratic primary for a second term to his predecessor, C. Ben Ross,[10] who ran for United States Senate in 1936 against longtime incumbent William Borah. Ross lost the general election in 1938 to C. A. Bottolfsen; Clark left office on January 2, 1939, and returned to Idaho Falls and his private interests. He chose not to run in 1940 to reclaim the office,[11] which was won by his younger brother Chase Clark (1883–1966). Chase was the father-in-law of Frank Church (1924–84), a four-term U.S. Senator (1957–81) and presidential candidate in 1976. In turn, Bottolfsen defeated Chase in 1942.

Death

Clark died of complications of lung cancer at age 62 in Idaho Falls in 1943;[12][13] he is interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.

References
  1. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Clark, A to B".
  2. "The Political Graveyard: Clark family of Boise and Idaho Falls, Idaho".
  3. "Barzilla W. Clark". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  4. "Barzilla W. Clark". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  5. "Barzilla W. Clark". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  6. "Barzilla W. Clark". University of Idaho Library. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  7. "Clark becomes Idaho governor". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 7, 1936. p. 3.
  8. "Idaho revamps state regime". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 3, 1937. p. 5.
  9. "Barzilla Clark just plain man". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 25, 1937. p. 11.
  10. "Loyal New Deal senator loses primary race". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 11, 1938. p. 1.
  11. "Barzilla Clark is not to run". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 11, 1940. p. 10.
  12. "Ex-Governor Clark succumbs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 22, 1943. p. 1.
  13. "Regard to memory of ex-Governor B. Clark paid at Idaho Falls". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. September 25, 1943. p. 8.
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