COL. Donald G Clarke Sr.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Donald G. Clarke, former owner and operator of the Merry Go Round roller skate facilities and the Kimberly Lanes Bowling Center, passed away on August 2, 2011.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Paul Peeples on Saturday, August 6, 2011, at 10 a.m. at Memory Chapel. The family will accept friends Friday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements were handled by Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. William Hill, Jim and Betty Carnes, Robert and Susan Lanoux, Command Sgt. Maj. Curtis Duco, Cindy Kearny, the nursing staff of DCH, Walter Stepchuck, the United States Marine Corps, and the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter.

Among his many distinguished accomplishments, he was proud that he was the first person in the nation to become involved with Toys for Tots, the annual Marine Corps program for children. In 1948, he was assigned the task to determine the feasibility of “Toys for Tots” as a re-enlistment and public relations tool at Squantum Naval Air Station (NAS). Based on his report and its initial success, the Commanding General, stated there will be a “Toys for Tots” as long as there is a Marine Corp. Later, as owner-operator of the local skating rinks, he ensured that the “Toys for Tots” event was scheduled at the rinks annually.

Colonel Clarke was born in Revere, Mass., on October 20, 1921, son of Gordon and Lillian Clarke. After high school, he attended Northeastern University and Wentworth Technical Institute.

He entered the US Navy flight training program in May, 1942 where his first CO was Lt. J.G. Gerald Ford, later the 39th President of the United States.

He graduated from the US Naval Flight Academy on April 2, 1943, and was selected for Marine Aviation as a fighter pilot. Soon after teaching fighter tactics at NAS Pensacola, he went to Advanced Training at NAS Jacksonville, where he met Nadine Spaulding, daughter of Captain and Mrs. Lonnie Spaulding. Don and Nadine were married in Columbia, S.C. in 1944.

During World War II, he was a carrier fighter pilot, distinguishing himself in several aerial combat campaigns and, for a brief period, served under Gregory “Pappy” Boyington of the famed “Black Sheep” Marine fighter squadron in the South Pacific.

During the Korean War, he distinguished himself as a Helicopter Air-Sea Rescue pilot with the 1st Marine Division earning several Distinguished Service Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In addition to retrieving wounded, dead, and dying Marines under fire, he was the pilot for the South Korean President, delegates of the peace delegation to Panmunjom, several generals, Mickey Rooney, and Boris Karloff for USO shows for the troops during the Korean conflict.

After the Korean War, and as a Marine Corps Reservist, he was the Chief Rotary Wing Test Pilot for the Army Aviation Program. While serving in this capacity, he held 3 world records in Rotary Wing Aircraft (helicopters) and was chosen to test and fly the world's largest helicopter for Igor Sikorsky, developer of the Sikorsky helicopters. He was credited with being the only pilot ever to fly an aircraft from the factory to both branches of service, the Marine Corps and the US Army.

He is credited with initiating and developing the Department of Defense helicopter Instrument program, holding the very first Helicopter Instrument certification “ticket”. The program is still being used by all military service branches using the helicopter.

Later, as Chief Test Pilot at the FAA Experimental Flight Center, he tested many All Weather Flight Systems, where his immediate superior was Hans Gieseke, one of the developers of the German V-2 rocket used in World War II.

Sent to Vietnam as the Chief Aircraft Accident Investigator for U.S. Army Board of Air Accident Research (USABAAR), he spent many days in jungles investigating downed aircraft to determine if the cause was accidental or combat related. Through his experience there, he set up and established a number of safety and maintenance programs to prevent further accidents and mishaps. It was during his assignment at USABAAR he saw the need for an Army Test Pilot School, and, through his recommendations and work, pioneered the way for the Army Test Pilots School at Ft. Eustis, Va.

During his aviation career, he logged over 10,500 hours, flying 64 different types of aircraft. In addition to numerous awards and commendations, he is credited with developing numerous programs which are still utilized by the FAA and US Army. Many of his project reports on Rotary Wing Instruments are still used at Ft. Rucker, where pilots of all services receive their helicopter training.

Among his many awards are the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 28 Air Medals, 12 Letters of Commendation, 8 US Presidential Unit Citations, Korean PVC, the Vietnam Distinguished Service Medal, Sikorsky Flying “S” for Rescue, US Marine Medal for Rescue, and US Marine Corp Medal for Bravery.

He also received the highest honor bestowed upon a citizen by the Boy Scouts of America for his daring rescue of a Boy Scout. During military high altitude tests of the helicopter at Pikes Peak, Colorado, he received the call that a Boy Scout in Wyoming, D. O. Kunz, fell from a tree, severely injuring his back while on a camping trip high in the mountains. Low on fuel, Colonel Clarke made the rescue saving the boys life.

At the time of his passing, he was the Senior Colonel, in rank, in the Marine Corp, with a date of rank, 6-30-65. Since his entry into Rotary Wing Aviation in 1950, and considered one of the top test pilots in the country, he is truly a pioneer in the advancement of the helicopter.

After retirement, he entered into private life and owned the Carousel Skate Center, Merry Go Round Skate Center, and Kimberly Lanes Bowling Center. Because of his dedication to the sport of local bowling, he was inducted into the Tuscaloosa Bowling Hall of Fame.

He loved Lake Tuscaloosa, and especially “the kids” that skated at his rinks for so many years. He is survived by a sister, Marion Hadley of Boston, Mass.; his sons, Donald Clarke, Jr., Gregory Clarke, and Jeffery Clarke; and his daughter, Kimberly Skelton; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Rescue Shelter.

His favorite part of the day was the hues of early morning light… the peacefulness of a day yet to come.

“Fly high dear son, loving dad, beloved gramps… / The clouds no longer obscuring your sights… / The mission accomplished, the wind just right… / Onward, ever upward…God's Speed, my endearing gramps… / What a man, what a life, what a flight!”