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Obituary: Dr. Henry T. Clark

Posted on October 2, 2008 by Staff

Dr. Henry Toole Clark, Jr. died at the Carol Woods retirement center in Chapel Hill on September 25, 2008 after several months of declining health.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill.

Dr. Clark was born in Scotland Neck, NC, in Halifax County, in October 1917 to Henry T. and Cornelia Josey Clark. He graduated valedictorian of his class from Scotland Neck High School in 1933.

He entered UNC Chapel Hill in September 1933 at the age of 15. Dr. Clark was awarded an A.B. degree at UNC in 1937, then attended its two year Basic Science Medical School. He received his M.D. from the University of Rochester (New York) in 1944.

After a postgraduate fellowship in pathology at Rochester, Dr. Clark pursued an internship in medicine at Duke University Hospital. There he met Blanche Burrus of Canton, NC, a pharmacist at Duke. They were married on October 1, 1946, and would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary on October 1.

In 1950, Dr. Clark came to UNC to become the chief administrative officer of the newly formed Division of Health Affairs at UNC. As such Dr. Clark oversaw the expansion of the Medical School to a four-year program, the founding of the School of Dentistry and the School of Nursing, the expansions of the Schools of Public Health and Pharmacy and the opening of the North Carolina Memorial Hospital.

In 1966 Dr. Clark left UNC to assume the role of Director of the Regional Medical Program for the state of Connecticut.

Dr. Clark was also committed to overseas projects in both developed and developing nations. From 1956 to 1970, he served as the main medical advisor for the development of a medical center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He also served as the on-site medical advisor in developing long range plans for a major university hospital in Leiden, Holland. From 1976-1978, he served as Director of Project Hope in the West Indies.

In addition to his professional work, Dr. Clark was an avid sportsman. In 1960 he helped reorganize the North Carolina Tennis Association, and served as its first president. In 1961 he helped initiate North Carolina Tennis. He was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980, and served as the chairman of its selection committee for several years.

Following his retirement to Chapel Hill in 1981, Dr. Clark focused his energies on volunteer efforts. With his wife, Blanche, he helped forge partnerships among Habitat for Humanity, UNC fraternities and sororities and local churches. These partnerships have built more than 25 houses in Orange County.

In 1996, Dr. Clark, along with his wife, was tapped into the Order of the Golden Fleece, the most prestigious student leadership organization at UNC. In 2003, he and Blanche received the Alice Call Miller Award for outstanding Volunteer Community Service by Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

Dr. Clark is survived by his wife, Blanche; three children, Laura Clark Healy and husband, Tim, Henry Clark III and wife, Colleen, and Anne Clark Billings; 10 grandchildren, Meg Atkinson Thomas, James Atkinson and wife, Nanette, Kimberly Atkinson Kelly and husband, Kyle, Chris Clark and wife, Jennifer, Melissa Clark, Michael Clark, Richard, Chris, Jonathan and Timothy Billings; and two great-grandchildren, Jordan and Julia Clark.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Orange County Habitat for Humanity, 1829 E. Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or the Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

1 thought on “Obituary: Dr. Henry T. Clark”

  1. Chris Clark says:
    October 30, 2008 at 7:02 pm

    Hank, you will be missed. You were a truly extraordinary person, and your influence on our world will be felt for generations. We miss you already.

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