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Biography
of Marshall L. Clark - From Richard Clark and family
The track community is deeply saddened by the loss of Marshall Clark
who
died Monday, September 30th of an apparent heart attack. He was 69
years old. Marshall Clark spent the last 10 years of a long and
illustrious career at Saratoga High School where he coached the boys
and girls Track & Field and Cross Country teams. Prior to coaching
at
Saratoga, Marshall was the Head Track coach at San Jose State until the
program was disbanded in 1988 and coached at Stanford University from
1968 to 1978 where he led their Cross Country team to a 2nd place NCAA
finish in 1968. In the interim Marshall was the Head Track Coach and
Assistant Athletic Director for the University of Montana (1978 to
1980).
Despite the credentials, Coach Clark as he was widely known by his
athletes will perhaps best be remembered for his selfless &
indiscriminate dedication to the men and women, boys and girls he
coached over five decades, and from his colleagues for his unwavering
passion and loyalty to the sport(s).
Marshall Clark’s coaching career began in 1958 at Los Altos High
School
in Hacienda Heights where he coached for 9 years. Migrating north, he
coached Track and Cross Country at Seaside High School for one year
before taking the position at Stanford University where he coached under
Head Coach, and former Olympic Coach Payton Jordan.
Of Marshall, Payton says “He tried to build men and not just
champions. As a result everyone was better for having him as a
mentor... He made a difference in everyone’s lives who new him.”
Marshall served as a coach for the US National Track Team at the 1972
International Indoor Meet in Moscow. Since 1995, he has served the
National Federation’s Interscholastic Coaches Association Sub-Committee*
on Education and along with former USC Men’s Head Coach & lifelong
friend Ernie Bullard, as an advisor to India’s Sports Authority,
regarding the implementation of Track Clinics in that country. In
1999-2000 Marshall was honored with the prestigious CCS Coach Award for
Track & Field.
Additionally Marshall was the pioneering spirit behind the Cross Country
Course at the Stanford golf course that has been the home of the NCAA
District-8 Championships for six seasons and the Pac-10 championships
from 1972 to 1997. For the last 30 years the course has been the home
of the Stanford Invitational and has challenged some of the finest
runners in the world.
Marshall’s involvement in Track & Field began as an athlete
at Muir High
School in Pasadena. After a tour of duty with the Coast Guard,
Marshall ran track for the University of Southern California from 1955
to 1957 where he lettered. Following college he ran with the Southern
California Striders when he was a member of the Sprint Medley team
that ran the third fastest time in the world that year, 1960.
Marshall first gained Payton’s attention as a “courageous
runner” before
being hired on at Stanford but his reputation as a coach was quickly
established. Payton maintains today that the modest Marshall was “one
of America’s greatest coaches.”
Runners coached under Marshall Clark include Olympians Don Kardong,
Duncan Macdonald and Anthony Sandoval. Don Kardong points out that “he
was equally happy coaching runners who no one has ever heard of, runners
who simply wanted to be better. He loved coaching high school runners
as much as college stars. Maybe more so.” He goes on further to
say
that “Everyplace he went, great athletes and teams emerged. Dave
Gordon
at Montana, Danny Gonzalez at San Jose State. Dozens more.”
Natural ability was in the genes. Marshall’s three children ran
Track
and Cross Country for Mountain View High School in the 1980’s. His
son
Richard went on to run for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and his daughter
Shannon for USC, Marshall’s alma mater.
Marshall is survived by his wife Carol, his son Richard, daughters Stacy
and Shannon and stepdaughters Michelle and Jacqueline DeCamara, and six
grandchildren.
A memorial will be held for Marshall Clark on Saturday, October 12 at
4pm at Saratoga High School, 203000 Herriman Ave, Saratoga 95070.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marshall Clark Track
and Cross Country Fund, c/o Saratoga HS.
*U.S. State Department
Family Announcement:
October 5, 2002
I'm sure many of you have heard the news of Marshall Clark's passing earlier
this week. The family, as we all are, is devastated by the loss, but are
warmed and comforted by the out pouring of love and admiration for this
very special man. As anyone who knew Marshall knows, we are very lucky
to have had him as a father, husband, grandfather, coach and friend. We
will miss him dearly but will continue to honor his spirit in our own
lives; his generosity, his integrity, his drive and his heart. In this
way, he will live on with us.
We would like to thank everybody for their special words, their flowers,
their love, and their support.
The Clarks & DeCamaras
That man is special who dares to dream and pursue it, using his head
for himself and his heart for others. That man is special who strives
to leave the world better than he found it.
-Anonymous
Dyestat Cal News
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