O. James Clark Endowed Scholarship Fund #00663
To provide an annual scholarship award to a Midland Public School graduate who is currently enrolled in college and is a junior or senior with preference given to those with financial need and a GPA of 3.0 or above. The student must be studying a humanities field (language, art, social studies, etc.) and previous recipients may reapply.
From the fundholder:
O. James “Jim” Clark, 85, of Midland, died February 23, 2015 at King’s Daughters Home. He was born April 30, 1929 at the family home on East Pine Street in Midland, the son of Oliver and Elsie (Pratt) Clark.
Jim graduated from Midland High School in 1947, and earned his BA at Albion College in 1951. In 1954 he received his MA from the University of Michigan, and also had done graduate work at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. His career in education began at Midland High School where he taught economics and speech from 1951-1956. Jim was Assistant Principal at Jefferson Intermediate School, and as Principal at H.H. Dow High School from 1967-1981. Jim was the first principal for both new buildings at Jefferson Intermediate and H.H. Dow High School.
He was the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Midland Public Schools from 1981 until his retirement in 1991. Jim was an active member at the First United Methodist Church for over 60 years. His contributions ranged from working for two summers on the church construction, to serving as chairman of the Staff-Parish Relations committee, past president of the Methodist Men and his involvement in the Stephens Ministry. He served as the past president of the Albion Midland Alumni Association, the Midland United Way and as the first president of the Midland Area Community Foundation in 1974. He also served on the Restore the Dream Central Auditorium Committee, the Original Delta College Planning Committee and the Midland County Council on Aging Board of Directors. Jim loved music, and was active in the Men of Music for over 25 years. He also enjoyed reading and traveling to more than 30 countries.