William Kalar Clark

William Kalar Clark went home to be with his Lord on Sunday, September 25, 2005, at the age of 84. Bill Billy was born at Prairie Lea, Texas as a premature baby weighing only 2 3/4 pounds, and was kept alive in a shoebox in a country oven.

He is preceded in death by his parents Dr. Archibald Fletcher Clark, Sr. and Bird Shanklin Clark, and his brother Dr. Archibald Fletcher Clark, Jr. The things that Bill valued most in his life were friendships, a zest for life, fairness, honesty, loyalty, and integrity. He put 100% of himself into everything he did, and saw it through to completion. He said that a positive attitude was the most important thing in life. Bill was respected and admired by his business associates and friends. He treated everyone with compassion and respect.

Bill was one of a kind, and a wonderful human being. He loved to travel, and Paris was his favorite city for beauty, food, and romance. In his later years, he traveled the world with friends. Bill grew up in Fentress, moved to San Antonio, and graduated from Jefferson High School. He attended the University of Texas and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

He joined the Navy during World War II and served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Aleutian Islands. The Navy sent him to Harvard Graduate School of Business with an assignment thereafter to dispose of surplus Navy materials.

Bill then completed his education at Stanford Graduate School of Business where he graduated with honors and was president of his class. He joined Uvalde Rock Asphalt Company Azrock as a sales rep and thoroughly enjoyed a 45-year career, and became President, Chairman and CEO.

Bill was always an active player in floor covering industry activities, and worked tirelessly to make Azrock a place that every employee would be proud off. He served on many boards: President of the Resilient Floor Covering Industry for 6 terms; resilient manufacturing Board member of the American Floor Covering Association, National Floor Covering Distributors; Foundation Board Chair of the National Home Fashions League and Board member of the International Furnishings & Design Association as well as the Dallas Market Center.

Bill was inducted into the Western Floor Covering Association Hall of Fame in 1994. Bill's love of the flooring industry was evident in all he did. He truly "glamorized" vinyl composition tile and his vision led the industry to become innovative with new patterns and styles to enhance commercial interiors. Bill served on the Advisory Board of the Frost Bank.

He was an active member of the Kiwanis, The Texas Cavaliers, Order of the Alamo, San Antonio German Club, The Argyle, San Antonio Country Club, Club Giraud, Pilon Club, and Revelers.

Bill leaves behind Peggy and Joe Payne, Diana Clark Phillips, Tim and Shelley Phillips Strickland, Scott and Rebecca Phillips, Bill and Linda Clark Barron, Christopher and Dodie Barron, Alex Barron, A. Fletcher Clark, III, Allison Clark, George and Jamie Karutz, Sr., George and Kristie Karutz, Jr., the Earl McCutchan family, the Robbie Rector family, his godson E.J. Bartolomei Jr., and many wonderful friends.

Bill also leaves behind the true love of his life and companion Mary Lewis Scott Kleberg and her family. He totally adored the families of Sally Kleberg, Tres & Olive Anne Kleberg, Tio and Janell Kleberg, Scott and Julie Kleberg, and all of their children and grandchildren.

The Pallbearers are Bill Barron, A. Fletcher Clark, III, Tony Diamond, Dr. Ben Espy, Thomas Espy, Michael Holdridge, George Karutz, Sr., Cardo Kleberg, Chris Kleberg, Elkin Kleberg, Matt Kleberg, Jay Kleberg, Scott Kleberg, Tio Kleberg, Tres Kleberg, and Joe Payne.

Honorary Pallbearers are Clyde Allen, Charles Alvey, Pete Carrington, Judge Solomon Casseb, Jr., General Rip Collins, John Crichton, Frank Dolan, Tom Drought, William English, Dick Evans, William Flannery, Hector Flores, Tom Frost, Norman Harwell, Jim Hayne, Peter Holt, Dr. Ben Martin, Frank Nelms, Roger Reinhard, J. Burleson Smith, Dr. Reeves Smith, Stewart Wallace, and Mitchell Wommack.

The family would like to acknowledge the loving care provided by Hector Flores; Rosa and Adalberto Ruiz; Diana Schultz, Peggy Wolff, and Mary Tisdale of VNA and Hospice of South Texas; and Brenda Jaye, Lupe Leal, Liz Laird, and Anna Ross of Personal Care Management. Many thanks to Leslie Johnson, JoAnna Stark, Nicolasa Garcia, Eva Gerragauch, Veronica Rios, and the Staff at 4001 N. New Braunfels. The family would like to thank Dr. Lon Smith, Ana Hornedo, Jennifer Anderson and the team at CTRC for their support and guidance.