Clifton Clarke Inge Sr.

Clifton was born on June 10, 1936 in Mobile, Alabama. His education began at Leinkauf school before transferring to University Military School (UMS) in 6th grade where he was a letterman in baseball, football, basketball, and golf.

In his junior and senior years at UMS, he served as team captain for the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams and also played on the “All City” leagues for each of the three major sports.

After graduating from UMS in 1954, Clifton attended The University of Virginia on a baseball scholarship.While at UVA, he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, played shortstop for three years and graduated with a B.A. in history in 1958.

Clifton then went on to serve on active duty with the United States Marine Corps for two years, attaining the rank of captain in the USMC Reserve. He would remain a fiercely devoted American citizen the rest of his life -- making the twice daily trek out on his dock to raise and lower the American flag, until he no longer could.

Clifton then returned to Mobile in 1960 to begin his career with W. K. P. Wilson & Son, Inc under the mentorship of Babe Wilson. Just fourteen years later he was named president, a position he still held when the firm merged with Corroon & Black in 1988. He then served as the CEO and president of the Mobile office of Corroon & Black until becoming chairman of the Willis Corroon Corporation of Mobile in 1991. He retired from Willis in 2002.

Shortly after moving back to Mobile and serving as the 1961 Mardi Gras King, Clifton married his wife of 61 years, Eugenia “Genie” Radcliff Inge, on December 1, 1962. The pair married at Christ Church Cathedral, with a reception at the Grand Hotel. And so began their life together in and around Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Clifton served his community and beyond through a variety of boards and committees. His leadership positions included serving as the president of the following organizations: America’s Junior Miss Pageant, YMCA of Metropolitan Mobile, Mobile Touchdown Club, and the Country Club of Mobile. He was heavily involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast. He also was the founding director of Bank of Mobile, which ultimately became BancTrust Financial Group, Inc. Throughout his various involvement efforts, he was perhaps most passionate about the two cornerstones of his educational pursuits which he attributed much of his personal and professional success to - UMS and UVA.

Clifton served on the UMS board of trustees for 25 years and as chairman from 1984-1986. He was inducted into the UMS-Wright Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 for his accomplishments at UMS and UVA, and was ultimately named Alumnus of the Year in 2012.

Clifton was also a lifetime supporter of University of Virginia - serving as president of the Arts & Sciences Alumni Council, a member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Managers, and a class agent for the Class of 1958. He also created a scholarship fund at the Curry School of Education and made generous gifts to the School of Arts & Sciences.

Above all, Clifton Clarke Inge Sr. was a devoted father to his two children, Clifton “Clif” Clarke Inge Jr. and Ashley Eugenia Inge O’Connor, and his five grandchildren, Clifton and Conrad Inge, and Eugenia, Clarke and John O’Connor. The latter half of his life was spent being “all-in” on everything his children and their children were doing - every sporting event, school play, graduation ceremony, birthday, holiday. Wherever his family was is where Clifton Inge wanted to be. He filled his summers housing his kids and grandchildren at his beloved Mobile Bay home - teaching each of the 5 grandkids how to fish, tube, water ski, drive the boat, work hard, throw the cast net, correctly use the seine net, raise and lower the American flag, be generous, cheer on UVA sports (namely baseball), over-cook toast in the oven, make peach tea, love yellow labs, play wiffle ball and once they mastered that then teaching them the art of stopper ball. The grandkids adored their “Big C” and he loved them deeply. When he wasn't with his family, Clifton enjoyed hunting and golfing with his dear friends who have stood by him until the very end.

Clifton Clarke Inge Sr., - accomplished, but even more humble. A leader by example. Confident in who he was, what he believed in and what he cared about. Dependable to his core. Steadfast. Gentle. Generous. Patient. Determined. Patriotic. Kind. A competitor. A gentleman in its truest form.

Clifton is survived by his beloved wife, Genie Inge, children Clif and Ashley, their spouses Ginna and Henry, grandchildren Clifton and his wife Hartley, Conrad, Eugenia, Clarke and John, and sister Vaughan Morrissette. He will live on forever in our hearts and minds, but will be dearly missed until we meet again.

His entire family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful caregivers who have spent countless hours looking after Clifton in his final months of life. We want to give special thanks to Norma Sanchez, Alicia Sanchez Esperanza, Tonia O’Daniel, Samantha Hardy Cook, and Pamela Williams. We will be forever grateful for your love, dedication and support.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast or UMS-Wright Preparatory School. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be held in Old Spring Hill Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.