Dick "Dickie" Clark

Richard Lee Clark May 9, 1937 August 24, 2015 Richard Lee "Dick" Clark, 78, of Waco, passed away Monday, August 24, 2015, surrounded by his family. Services will be 11:00 a.m., September 4, at First United Methodist Church Waco with the Rev. Stephen Ramsdell officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Speegleville, Texas. Visitation will be 6 7:30 p.m., Thursday, September 3, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd. Dick fought a very valiant, courageous battle the entire way, from May until his passing, with his family by his side every step of the way. How do you begin to describe such a wonderful man like Dickie Clark? He has touched so many lives in so many ways, and provided so much joy and happiness for so many people. He absolutely loved "EVERYONE", and everyone loved him. Dickie Clark was bigger than life, and loved and treasured every single moment along the way! Needless to say, Dickie was always the life of the party! It is often said that what matters most in this life it is not how long a life one lives but how one spends the "dash" between the date of one's birth and the date of one's death. The way Dick Clark spent his dash was extraordinary. Dick was full of life! Dick loved his home in Waco, his condo in Vail, vacationing in Cancun, Mexico, every winter for his wife and daughter's birthday, family gatherings, grandkids' ball games, skiing with his buddies in Vail, playing gin rummy with his great buds at Ridgewood Country Club in the 19th hole daily, and sitting on the deck of his home relaxing and looking out at the lake. Dick also loved golf, loved his friends dearly and loved his class of 1955! Dick was born May 9, 1937, in Waco Texas, to Harold O. Clark and Mildred Clark. He attended Waco schools and graduated from Waco High School in 1955, and went on to graduate from Baylor University both for his undergraduate degree and his law degree. Dick married the love of his life, Sandra Clark, on May 1, 1964. Dick was a star football player for the Waco High Tigers and then for Baylor University, having played in the 1957 Sugar Bowl, which saw the 15th ranked Bears beat the University of Tennessee 13-7 in a historic victory for the Baylor football program. Dick went on to be drafted by the Chicago Bears, but played professionally for the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL. Following his football career, Dick obtained his law degree and began practicing law with the McLennan County District Attorney's Office as an assistant district attorney. He subsequently went into private practice with his father in the law firm of Clark and Clark, and years later with his son. He also served in the Naval Reserves JAG Corps as a Lt. Commander. Dick was also a Mason and a member of the Karem Shrine Temple, having served as Potentate in 1977. Dick was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather and who deeply cherished the love and company of his family and friends, and took great joy in the nickname "Popeye" given to him by his grandchildren. Dick had an infectious love of life, and reveled in being the life of the party. He loved the Lord and his family with all of his heart, loved his friends, loved the practice of law, good times, Baylor University athletics and sunsets on Lake Waco. Although he was privileged to have traveled to many exotic and beautiful places all over the globe, his favorite place on Earth was on his houseboat on Lake Waco. Dick never met a stranger and was a friend to all. Survivors include his wife, Sandra Clark of Waco; daughter Christi Clark of Dallas; son, Richard Lee "Rick" Clark, Jr. and his wife, Jill, of Waco; his grandchildren, Jacqueline Clark and Richard Lee Clark, III, both of Waco; and brother-in-law, Jarrell Bradbury of Phoenix. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children; Methodist Children's Home; Fuzzy Friends Rescue or Humane Society of Central Texas. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.