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Convergence Center - Markin Family Student
Recreation Center - Athletic Performance Center
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the Campaign Gala - Hayden-Clark Alumni Center Groundbreaking
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News & Updates
A loving legacy from the Clarks
Bradley’s Alumni Association is 108 years old, almost as old as the University itself. Yet it wasn’t until 1950 that the organization really came to life when the first official alumni office was established. Back then, the alumni files consisted of the names and addresses of 9,000 Bradley alumni kept on index cards, locked away for safe keeping in Professor Clarence Schroeder’s closet.
Today there are more than 60,000 alumni world-wide and the alumni records have moved from a closet in Bradley Hall, to a house just down the street, to a temporary location in Comstock Hall. Bradley has not had a dedicated center for alumni—a permanent home away from home, but with the recent groundbreaking of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center that dream will soon be realized.
There are two families, two generous alumni couples, who helped make this dream for an alumni center come true—Jerry ’59 and Marilyn Hayden '61 and alumnus Bob Clark ’67 and his wife Kathleen. Last week we shared the story of Jerry and Marilyn Hayden, and this is the story of Bob and Kathleen Clark.
"Bob is a Bradley Centurion and long-time contributor—beginning with a $5 gift in 1969—two years after he graduated,” said President Joanne Glasser at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We thank him and his wife, Kathleen, so much for that gift and for their gift that helped to make the new alumni center possible.”
Bob Clark is a 1967 business graduate and was a member of the accounting club during his years at Bradley. After departing from the Hilltop, he enjoyed a distinguished career in various energy-related businesses. Mr. Clark began his career as an internal auditor with Northern Illinois Gas Company (now Nicor, Inc.,) and rose through the ranks of the company to vice president-Eastern Division. In 1980, he was named vice president-Nicor Exploration in Denver. In 1985, he became vice president of Ladd Petroleum Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric, and in 1988, he was named senior vice president of Snyder Oil Corporation.
Mr. Clark formed Bear Paw Energy, LLC in 1995. Bear Paw operated gathering systems in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Texas, Kansas and Colorado and three natural gas processing plants in North Dakota. Bear Paw was sold to Northern Border Partners, L.P. in 2001. Immediately following the sale, Bear Cub Energy, LCC was formed with Mr. Clark as director, president and CEO. Bear Cub LLC is a natural gas gathering, treating, and processing company headquartered in Denver.
Mr. Clark currently serves on the board of directors of Storm Cat Energy Corporation and Evergreen Energy, Inc. He is a past member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committees of Patina Oil & Gas Corporation and Evergreen Resources, Inc. He served as past president of the Denver Petroleum Club and he has been active in many business-related organizations. In 2005, Bob Clark was recognized for his outstanding professional achievements with membership into Bradley University Centurion Society.
Throughout the years, wherever life has taken them, the Clarks have remained connected to Bradley. They have always put the interests of the University first in their philanthropy and in their hearts. Bob and Kathleen Clark are residents of Golden, Colorado and are active members of Bradley’s Rocky Mountain Alumni Club. They have four adult children.
“My mother and father always said ‘it is better to give than to receive’ and I think that is what we are trying to do. I received a good foundation at Bradley that has enabled me to be in a position to do this today,” remarked Bob Clark at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“When I left here in 1967, beginning with that $5 gift in 1969, I had no idea that I would ever be in a position to contribute to the University the funds to build a legacy that will be here for decades to come,” he continued. “Kathy and I are very much honored that we are able to do this."
The Clarks and the Haydens will forever be linked to the Bradley campus, forever be a part of Bradley history. They have made a selfless contribution, one that will set our alumni—and our university—apart from so many others.