Born in Oregon County, Missouri, Clark was a lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II, from 1944 to 1946, and later received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (now the University of Missouri School of Law) in 1952.
[1] On June 13, 1977, Clark was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by Judge William H. Becker.
He served as Chief Judge from 1980 to 1985, and assumed senior status on August 1, 1991.
Clark retired completely from the bench on July 31, 2000.
[1] Clark ordered tax increases to come up with the massive amounts of money he ordered to be spent by the Kansas City school district in the case of Missouri v. Jenkins.