Preston Presley Clark, Jr.

Preston Presley Clark, Jr., 86, a native of Abilene, Texas and a resident of Austin, Texas since 1963 passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. He was born on February 21, 1925 in Abilene, the son of Preston Presley Clark, Sr. and Annah Mai Gorham Clark.

Preston attended the Abilene Public Schools and received a BA degree in History from McMurry University in 1947 and a Master of Journalism degree from the University of Texas-Austin in 1949, with additional graduate study, ABD, at the University of Missouri.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Rougham Field, England in World War II including a tour with the 10-man crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress on 32 missions to German targets. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with clusters, ETO service ribbon, and a share of the 94th Bomb Group’s two presidential unit citations.

When World War II ended in August, 1945, he returned to college life at McMurry and a new career choice—journalism. He became the editor of the college newspaper and in his senior year was editor of the yearbook and elected to “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”.

Preston followed that at UT-Austin with volunteer work on The Daily Texas newspaper Cactus yearbook and a part-time job at Wallace Engraving Company, doing photo layouts and copy preparations for yearbooks which were printed by the Wallace Company.

He wrote his master’s thesis on “A Survey of School Annual Printing in Texas” by both the long-used letterpress method and the new method just then coming into vogue—offset lithography—not only for school yearbooks, but also for commercial newspapers.

Preston was invited to join the UT student chapter of Sigma Delta Chi (later renamed Society of Professional Journalists) which led to membership in the Austin Professional Chapter and many friendships during his 43-year career in journalism.

He taught journalism and supervised student publications at Tahoka High School in 1949-50 and held teaching and publication jobs successively at McMurry University and Southwest Texas State University, Texas Education Agency, Long News Service, State Health Department, Texas MH/MR, Texas OEO, Texas State Teachers Association, State Office of Texas PTA, Texas Aeronautics Commission, and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas from which he retired in January, 1993.

Preston was married in 1960 to the former Mary Jane (MJ) McElwain, a 1957 graduate of UT-Austin. They met at a church party for young adults and love later blossomed at Sholtz’s Garden for a couple of tea-totalers. Both have been active members of Faith Presbyterian Church since 1963.

Preston was predeceased by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Henry Spalding; brothers-in-law, John, Guy Edward, Kay, and Jay McElwain; and sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Fuller, Virginia Hall, Kitty Talley, and Betty Ann McElwain. Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years, Mary Jane (MJ) Clark; son, James Preston (Jim) Clark and wife, Charla; daughter, Rebecca (Becky) Clark and partner, Lisa Sramek; grandson, Trevor James Clark; brother-in-law, Lee Talley and wife, Nance; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a host of friends. Also surviving are stepson, Scott Harclerode and wife, Denise and their daughters, Cara and Katy Harclerode.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park with a Graveside Service to follow at 4:00 P.M., Rev. Lou Snead, Pastor officiating.

Celebration of Life Services will be at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 4, 2012 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1314 E. Oltorf St. with Rev. Lou Snead, Pastor and Rev. Keith Wright, Former Pastor, officiating. There will be a reception in the Faith Church Fellowship Hall following services.

Honoring Preston as Pallbearers will be Jim Stafford, Harold Clark, Brad Hull, George Green, Jack Scruggs, Lynn Hammer, Huie Lamb, and John Platt. Honorary pallbearer will be Buck Buxkemper.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the wonderful and caring staff of Barton Hills Assisted Living and Hospice Austin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Preston’s name to the Faith Presbyterian Church Child Development Center Building Fund or Food Pantry or to a charity of choice.