John is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Theresa Clark; his children, Calli Clark Griffin, Carri Clark Hondroulis and Gloria Kay Clark. John is also survived by his sisters, Donna Carter, Cathy Sims (Kenny), Mary Ellen Clark (Guy Bernheim); brother, Robert J. Clark, Jr., (Patty) and his mother, Mary C. Clark. John has four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends who all adored him and will miss him dearly.
John was preceded in death by his father, Robert J. Clark, Sr.
John was born in Plant City, FL on April 30, 1945 to Robert J. Clark and Mary C. Clark. He attended school at Edison Elementary, Memorial Junior High and graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1963. He starred in football as a halfback and lettered in track as a pole vaulter. John went on to attend Georgia Tech where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and graduated in 1969 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
While at Georgia Tech, John joined the ROTC program. After graduation he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and assigned to the basic infantry officer training course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He also attended Airborne Training. After he completed airborne training, he was assigned to the Canal Zone Jungle Warfare School. After this, it back to Fort Benning for a few months before he received orders for the Americal Division in South Vietnam on September 9, 1970. He was assigned to 1st Battalion 46th Infantry, Delta Company as 3rd Platoon leader. He remained with Delta Company and was the payroll officer. He was on fire support base Mary Ann and on March 27th and 28th 1971 to pay the troops. The night of the 28th, fire support base Mary Ann was hit by Viet Cong Sapper Company and John was one of the few survivors. As a result of John’s heroism and bravery, on that fateful day, John was awarded the Army Commendation Medal as well as a Bronze Star. John has remained in close contact with his fellow soldiers and has enjoyed a yearly reunion with the survivors of Firebase Mary Ann.
Upon his return from Vietnam, John joined the family, business, Tampa Steel Erecting Company. He worked alongside his father, Robert J. Clark, Sr., and his brother, Robert J. Clark, Jr. performing, fabrication and erection of major steel structures, including Spaceship Earth, The 40 Story Tampa City Center, The Florida Aquarium, to name a few. After 1990, Tampa Steel Erecting Company began specializing is steel bridge fabrication. One of the awarding winning bridge is Casco Bay Bridge in Portland, Maine and most recently the Gateway to Dallas Twin Arch Bridge, standing 300 feet tall and spanning 1125 feet long. The bridge was designed and Engineered by world renowned Santiago Calatrava, a Spanish architect.
John was an avid hunter. He has hunted for deer in Llano. Texas since 1974. Later he hunted for elk in Colorado and Moose in Newfoundland.
John was an extremely loyal, kind, curious and loving gentleman who was devoted to his family.
A memorial service will be held in John’s honor on May 20, 2017 at Blount and Curry Funeral Home-Macdill Chapel, 605 S. Macdill Ave Tampa, FL 33609. Visitation will commence at 12pm and service to follow at 2pm. A private burial service will take place at Shady Grove Cemetery in Mitchell County Georgia where John will be buried next to his great grandfather, Christopher Columbus Clark.
In lieu of flowers, John’s family would kindly request that donations be made in John’s name to the American Legacy Foundation-Mary Ann Memorial and forwarded to Ronald R. Ellis, 443 highway 64 W. Henderson Texas, 75652. Visit his online guestbook at www.blountcurrymacdill.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18