Ernest Calvin Clark, 96, of Lake Jackson, Texas, passed away on October 15, 2020. Ernest was born on July 25, 1924 in Spokane, Washington, to the late Beulah Jane (Pryor) Clark and James Herschel Clark. He grew up in Rusk, Texas and graduated from Rusk High School in 1942.
Ernest was an avid musician, starting his band teaching career in Katy, Texas in 1945, following graduation from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College in Huntsville. He then moved to teach in La Grange, Texas, where he met his future wife, Georgerine Osthoff. They were married August 7, 1949, until her death, January 5, 2016.
The family moved to Luling, Texas, where he lead the band at Luling High School from 1955-1957. This was followed by a final move to Brazosport Independent School District in 1957. Ernest attended classes each summer at the University of Texas in Austin until completion of his Master’s Degree in Music in 1958. He served as band director at Freeport Junior High from 1957-1965, and Lake Jackson Junior High/Intermediate from 1965-1986. He was well known for leading his bands to First Division awards and on July 24, 2000, was inducted into the International School Bandmaster Fraternity Hall of Fame. Ernest served in the Brazosport College/Community band for many years.
In addition to teaching, he was a renowned musical instrument repairman. He started repairing band instruments in 1948, and continued until the time of his death. He originally worked for H & H Music, then B & H Music, Brazosport Independent School District, as well as individual musicians from all over who sought his assistance. He has done repairs for musicians in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Kansas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and the number from Texas is innumerable. His greatest joy was repairing instruments for students and teaching them how to care for their horn. He was a longstanding member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians.
Ernest joined the Lutheran church following his marriage, and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Jackson from 1967 until his passing. Throughout their marriage, Ernest and Georgia were able to travel extensively in Europe, Mexico, as well as all fifty states. He enjoyed goose hunting, going to the shooting range, gun collecting, as well as attending car shows, concerts, ballet, and opera performances. He took pride in producing collectible woodworking projects for family members and friends. Last, but not least Ernest considered himself to be a true, proud, American Patriot.
