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Sports Watch
Clark was more
Senator, athlete
than a just a coach
IF there ever was a gentle, giant, an unpretentious man, it was Jimmy Clark, who died Sunday while sitting on the lanai of his Waiki'i Ranch home on the Big Island.It must have been a serene and beautiful death, according to his sister, Kamaka Clark Miyamoto.
"They found him sitting there with his puppy on his lap. It was like he was sleeping," she said.
Clark's home, high in the Waimea uplands, looked down on Kohala Coastline. It's not farfetched to imagine that Clark, who had a great love of his native Hawaii, must have thought to himself, this is what Kamehameha the Great must have once seen.
Clark, who observed his 71st birthday less than a month ago, might be remembered by most people as a star football player for Punahou School, Oregon State and the Washington Redskins.
But he was more multi-faceted than that. He was a "Renaissance man," a humble gentle man, according to his son, Timmy.
"A walking encyclopedia of Hawaiian history and genealogy," Kamaka added.
Clark was a Big Island delegate to the Native Hawaiian Convention and a member of the state house and senate. As a former legislator, the Hawaii state flag will be flown at half staff on Monday in his memory.
Jimmy and his younger brother Herman, who died in 1989, made up what was known as the "Clark Boys," who were outstanding linemen.
They grew up in Waikiki where the Hilton Hawaiian Village is now located. On land owned by their grandfather. Their mom, Annie Paoa, was related to Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. But football, not swimming, was in their blood.
Their father, Herman Clark, was regarded as one of Hawaii's greatest linemen. Jimmy and Herman, "Buddy" not Jr., followed not only in his footsteps, but left bigger imprints.
The Clark brothers played on perhaps the best high school line ever seen locally. The 1947 Punahou front also included Charlie Ane, an all-pro center with the Detroit Lions.
The Clarks went on to play together at Oregon State, winning Pacific Coast Conference honors as two-way players in a era of two-platoon football. They were the first brothers to play together in the East-West Shrine Game.
JIMMY spent two years with the Redskins before returning home to coach the St. Louis Crusaders. Brother Herman was his line coach.
In 1958, Jimmy faced his greatest test of character and passed admirably.
His Crusaders handily won their first three games and seemed unstoppable in quest of their first ILH football title since the 1949 unbeaten team.
Three starters were dismissed from school on charges of point-shaving in basketball games the year before. Clark's team went on to lose three of its remaining four games.
Clark never blamed the players involved, but helped them in their efforts to transfer to other schools and followed up as they went on to college and live productive lives after their loss of innocence.
"He always had a great faith in his fellow man, especially one who needed help," Kamaka said.
"His greatest wealth was his ability to make friends and when you were his friend, you were a friend for life. He was someone who backed you, all the way."
I feel privileged, having met Jimmy Clark and getting to know him over the years.
Privileged that I got to know him more than just a great football player and a compassionate football coach.
But as one who was simply a friend.
Bill Kwon has been writing about
sports for the Star-Bulletin since 1959.