AIR FORCE
1948-1952

William “Bill” Clark was born September 9, 1929, in La Grange, Illinois. At an early age Bill along with his sister and parents moved to the San Francisco Bay area and then later moved to Glendale, California. Bill completed his education in Glendale. Bill’s interest in photography began early in life. His photography skills continued to be of excellent value throughout his Air Force days. Bill’s first Air Force assignment was to travel with his unit to Morrocco. There Bill was entrusted to document his unit’s day to day Moroccan activities in their war efforts. There was much work to be done, but there was always time for some R and R. You can imagine the stories that Bill relates about his R and R time in the hot and arid Moroccan desert.

After finishing his Air Force assignment, Bill returned to Glendale, CA. Bill applied to be a company photographer for Richfield Oil, later known as ARCO. Richfield Oil was extremely impressed with Bill’s photography skills. Bill was hired to travel the world documenting Richfield Oil (ARCO) along with the company’s CEO’s and Board of Directors. Bill’s photos highlighted the Richfield Oil (ARCO) leaders’ lives and business successes for many years.

During his photography career Bill was privileged to meet and photograph many heads of state. He met and photographed Prince Charles, Margaret Thatcher, Presidents Dwight D Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter. As well as many well-known celebrities of the time like Bing Crosby. ARCO asked Bill to travel to Alaksa and document the implementation and progress of Alaska Pipeline from 1975 through 1977. ARCO also asked Bill to attend and photograph the signing of their contract with China to begin the first large scale commercial development of energy reserves in the South China Sea.

While at ARCO, Bill met his future bride, Kathleen Carl. They soon married and settled in Glendale. Bill and Kay were blessed with a son, Christopher and a daughter, Kim. After his retirement from ARCO, Bill began his own photography business. It was through his own business that Bill continued to document many of Los Angeles’s social and historical events.

When Bill and Kay retired, they moved back to Cedar Rapids to be “Home.” Kay, originally from Fairfield, Iowa, missed everything about Iowa. Bill knew it was time to call Iowa home too. There have been many amazing moments in Bill and Kay’s 60 years of marriage. Even though the years have passed you will still see many of Bill’s historical photos displayed within their home. Each of these photos have an amazing story to tell and Bill loves to share these stories with anyone that might ask.

Honored by: Dave Sharpe and Jane Schuyler