A 1938 graduate, Don Clark is rated among the best multi-sport athletes at Augustana. Clark participated in football, basketball, and track earning him nine letters and established several school athletic records. He was a standout in all sports; however, his best performances were seen in track.
He was named Captain of Augustana’s 1938 track squad after setting a school record for most points scored in a track season during the 1937 campaign. He also set school records in both the high and low hurdles, events in which he was very seldom beaten. Clark is a standout athlete that earned his way into Augustana’s Hall of Honor.
It was only natural that Clark enter the teaching and coaching profession following his graduation from Augustana in 1938. And, it wasn’t surprising that the success he experienced as an athlete carried over to his coaching career. After a two year stint at New Windsor High School, Clark took over as the head football coach at Orion High School and proceeded to build the Chargers into an athletic power in Western Illinois. Clark’s Orion grid squads won several Corn Belt Conference championships and his 1953 squad finished unbeaten and untied with a perfect 8-0-0 mark.
Clark entered the Rock Island school system in 1954 where he continued to turn out winners as an assistant coach in football, basketball and track & field.
The former U.S. Army Air Force bombardier also became very active in Rock Island’s community affairs, serving on the Rock Island Youth Guidance Council for 10 years and the church council of the First Lutheran Church of Rock Island. He was also active in the Augustana “Tribe of Vikings”, serving as president for that group for 10 years. He was inducted into the Augustana “Tribe of Vikings” Hall of Honor on February 10, 1979.
