Roll Call Tribute

Bill L. Clark

April 29, 1933 - November 18, 2022

Bill L. Clark died Friday, November 18, 2022. He was born April 29, 1933 near Ben Wheeler, Texas in Van Zandt County. He liked to say that his parents raised five kids farming on fifty acres.

Upon graduation from Van High School, Bill entered the US Navy. His service time was spent as an air traffic controller at the Naval Air Station in Olathe, Kansas. The cross country air field stayed very busy during the Korean Conflict. When his tour of duty was done, he was encouraged to attend Officer Training School. However, he chose to take the GI Bill and enrolled at Texas A&M College. Entomology became his major.

Bill worked three jobs to help fund his college expenses. He was a natural born leader at an early age beginning as Liggett Hall dorm counselor. He was very proud to have served as Civilian Student Council President.

Bill graduated from Texas A&M as a proud member of the class of 1957. Anyone who knew Bill recognized that Aggieland was an integral part of his life. His lifelong devotion to the school, and particularly the College of Entomology, was a passion he shared with friends and family.

Upon his graduation, Bill surveyed various locations for an opportunity to establish a new pest control company. He chose Beaumont, Texas and moved there in early 1958. He began his one-man business soliciting sales door to door in the morning and changed into work clothes to render pest control services each afternoon. The family likes to joke that it was akin to Superman changing clothes in a phone booth.

Slowly the business grew until it ranked as one of the largest in the state based on personal ownership. The family cannot count the number of times we've heard people ask "are you THE Bill Clark?" The business was built on the labors of incredible employees - many of whom worked for Mr. Clark for decades.

Bill was generous to a fault. He donated resources to countless worthy causes and charities. He developed a reputation amongst his peers as an effective fundraiser - particularly when it came to projects at his beloved Aggieland. Many building projects and scholarships exist today because of his generosity and dogged determination to get the bottom line accomplished. His many contributions were recognized when he was honored as a member of the Texas A&M Legacy Society.

He donated his time as well. He served many local, statewide and national organizations -many as President. To name a few there were: Lion's Club, Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Seamen's Center, Texas Pest Control Association, National Pest Control Association, Three Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America (for which he received the Silver Beaver Award), Texas A&M Agricultural Development Council, Lower Neches Valley Authority and many more.

After 60+ years at the helm of his business, Bill chose to sell the company within - thus protecting the legacy of the hundreds of loyal employees who helped him build the iconic brand. Today, Bill Clark Pest Control continues to serve the citizens of Beaumont, the Golden Triangle and beyond.

The years of hard work allowed Bill and Casey to travel to many parts of the world. When asked, he would always say his favorite place to visit was the last distant destination he had visited.

Bill is survived by his wife of 53 years, Casey Clark; daughters Shannon Clark, Shawn Abbott, Jonna Clark (Brad Mitchell), Cullen Clark Lutz (John Lutz); son Wm. Chase Clark (Amy Clark); grandsons Taylor Abbott, Layton Lutz and Benjamin Clark; granddaughters Olivia Lutz, Ellie Clark and Annabelle Clark; sister Shirley Simpson; brother Jerry Clark.

Bill was preceded in death by parents Curtis and Eunice Clark; sisters Nadine Penn, Maxine Wyrick; son Keven Clark.

A gathering of Mr. Clark's family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m, Monday, November 21, 2022, at Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, with his interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions in Bill's name to an organization of your choosing.