Dr. Clayton Clark – AC7O

From the October 1996 edition of Ohm Town News:

AC7O, Dr. Clayton Clark
by KJ7LQ Beanie Lofthouse

How does one tell about a friend of many years in a short space and still do his lifetime justice?  Since being asked to do a tribute to Clayton, it has been a puzzle to decide.

Clayton was born March 9, 1912 and died June 7, 1996.  Eighty-four years jam-packed with work, activities, learning, and service.  He married Helen Brown in 1933 and they raised two daughters while doing all the above.

Anyone who attended the funeral service for Clayton got a more personal glimpse of his life from family and friends.  Here, I will try to tell a bit more about what he meant to those of us involved with him through amateur radio.

I met Clayton and Helen soon after moving here in 1983.  Clayton was always a “friendly face” at the club meetings that we began attending, tried to greet everyone if not before the meeting, during the refreshment time following.  He was also involved with the testing programs as a VE and was a great supporter of anyone getting ready to study the manuals for the Novice test as well as for any upgrades.

I was impressed with Clayton’s ability to be involved with so many organizations, not only amateur radio, but all of his volunteer time with many organizations.  As a matter of fact, I had no idea there WERE so many organizations associated with amateur radio.  Clayton got really involved with Bridgerland ARC after he retired from his professorship at Utah State University in 1977.

With his background in radar through the Army in WWII, working in atmospheric studies in Washington, D.C. with the National Science Foundation, and his work at USU where he was involved with putting together the elements of atmospheric studies which resulted in the Center of Atmospheric and Space Science at USU, he was a natural for helping those of us who had difficulty grasping what propagation was all about.

Clayton had been willing to help new hams understand the principles of the hobby.  He was a wealth of information, always asking us if we understood how his many meters to test SWR, and various other things, worked.  If we did not, he tried to put it in terms we all could understand, without overwhelming us or discouraging us.  Members of the Board for BARC were always welcomed to meet at his house where there were many work parties as well.  He was a great help whenever we had antenna questions.  We were always welcome to his home, and it was easy to find with his “antenna farm” so prominent next to the golf course in Logan.

Clayton negotiated the original agreement with Cache County to have our repeater on Mount Logan using his call sign, AC7O, and was trustee of the autopatch for many years.  He also made it clear to the club that by being able to use the repeater and autopatch, we had an obligation to the Sheriff’s Department to become trained to help whenever they needed volunteers for communication efforts.  He didn’t just talk about it, he was willing to train us and to be trained as well.

Clayton was one of the first involved here in Cache Valley when the LDS Church organized the Mercury Amateur Radio Association (MARA).  He also reported to the state emergency coordinator every evening using Morse code and everyday at noon on voice.  He was also an avid supporter of the Utah VHF Society.

Clayton really was supportive of those XYLs and YLs (wives and other women) that decided to join their OMs (men) in the hobby.  It pleased him that a special class was offered to us when John, AE7T was president of the club and when the committee chairman was Don, WA7VNQ.  They did a good job and were instrumental in helping many of us to upgrade and to become involved more in the operation of the club.  If we had a question, wanted to just “talk”, or whatever, he was very willing.

After Clayton died, the next net held on the 146.720 repeater was a terrific tribute to him from many who had known him through his teaching at USU or through BARC.

His life was pretty much summed up in an article from the Herald Journal newspaper that carried one of his quotes: “Our purpose in life is to be active and further the development of society as much as we can.”  He also firmly believed, to quote him again, “We can not all do everything, but we can all do something.”

Thanks for the opportunity to remember our dear friend Clayton Clark.

73s AC7O, Clayton, de KJ7LQ, Beanie

If anyone has a good photo of Clayton or additional information that would be applicable to this page, please contact me (K7CTC) so I can see that it is added.  If anyone has information from the FCC as to the transfer date of his callsign to the BARC Repeater Association it would be appreciated as well.  A FCC ULS search only went back to the year 2000.  Also, a copy of the article mentioned from the Herald Journal.  As I continue to read through old issues of the Ohm Town News I will add things that may be of interest.  Thank you, Chris (K7CTC).