Roy C. Clark (1898-1967)

Brother Roy C. Clark, Northwestern '21 was a devoted Acacian who served the fraternity in a number of capacities, including that of National Executive Secretary (the equivalent of today's Executive Director) from 1947-1966. Clark was instrumental in the survival of the Fraternity during World War II, so much so that he would forever be known as "Mr. Acacia."

When the 25th Conclave assembled at Northwestern in August 1948, Brother Clark was able to report very good news: During the two preceding years, Acacia had achieved remarkable growth — from seven chapters and 133 active members, to 27 chapters with 851 actives, including 445 new initiates.

In the Spring 1947 Triad, National President Lloyd H. Ruppenthal wrote in a letter that is both a thank you to outgoing president Walter W. Kolbe and a welcome to newly-appointed Executive Secretary Roy Cecil Clark:

"I predict that Brother Clark's tenure of office will be marked by an improvement in our entire fraternity, both nationally and locally."

What a perfect introduction to the man who was "Mr. Acacia." After serving for the Northwestern Chapter through his early years as Chapter Advisor, Clark would go on to serve Acacia over the next 20 years as Executive Secretary — overseeing a period of impressive growth, both in size and prosperity.

In 1966 he was made Executive Secretary Emeritus at the Conclave in New Orleans. He would also become one of the elite Acacians to have an award named after him: The Roy C. Clark Outstanding Acacian Award. This distinguished award is presented annually to the one undergraduate who most nearly exemplifies the outstanding attributes of Brother Clark — Perseverance, Integrity, Foresight, Loyalty, Devotion, Wisdom and Leadership.

When Brother Clark died in May 1967, Acacia lost one of its greatest men.