Chad Dulin Clark, 19, was halfway through his sophomore year and preparing for a spring semester jam-packed with activities when he was killed in a car crash Dec. 18, cutting short a life that those who knew him said had already left a tangible mark throughout the university.
After Clark’s last final exam the Saturday before winter break, he packed his bags, said goodbye to close friend Mike Amoss and got on the road. But just a few miles from his Denton home, Clark missed a stop sign, and an oncoming tractor-trailer struck his black Chevrolet Silverado as it passed through the intersection.
“He was so ready to just go home and be with his family,” said Amoss, a senior agriculture and economics major. “We were waiting and waiting for Saturday to come, get the exam out of the way and then get home. I remember Friday night we were studying — we didn’t get much done because both of us were talking about what we were gonna do when we got home.”
Clark grew up on his family’s farm, where his appreciation for animals and agriculture was born. He further cultivated those interests at this university, majoring in animal sciences and pledging the agricultural fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho in the spring. His father and older brother were also members of the fraternity, and Clark was set to become president — known as “noble ruler” — Jan. 1.
Jason Kramek, AGR’s former president, said when preparing to step down from the presidency last fall, he was worried he would have trouble finding a successor given the chapter’s small size. But when his brothers nominated Clark for the position, Kramek said his concerns vanished.
Kramek said Clark’s willingness to assume the highest-ranking, most time-consuming position as a sophomore impressed his brothers, who were confident he would excel as president just as he shined in other aspects of his life. And true to character, Clark wasted no time in preparing for his tenure.
“He had expressed a lot of ideas in the short time he was elected,” Kramek said. “He would constantly come and bounce ideas off of me with things he wanted to do. I had no doubt that he was going to do a great job.”
Known for his confident and sociable personality, Clark immersed himself in the agriculture and natural resources college’s extracurricular activities. He was a member of the university’s chapter of Block and Bridle, a livestock judging club, and was proud of his involvement with the National Junior Charolais Association, a cattle showing organization. He also sat on the college’s Agricultural Council Board and was chosen to be the coordinator of Ag Day — a part of Maryland Day.
Clark’s professors recalled his infectious smile, his insatiable passion for agriculture and his impressive work ethic — attributes they said would remain in their memories.
“Chad was the ideal student,” said Scott Updike, who was his coach for Block and Bridle and his professor for four classes. “He was quiet and thoughtful yet would readily share his knowledge with other students. He was a great student-teacher.”
Clark’s involvement with the college impressed his professors and fellow students, Updike said. Clark had expressed a desire for creating a course on meat science, and Updike praised this initiative.
“Due to Chad’s previous experience with livestock, he was able to teach many concepts to his fellow students,” he said. “And yet Chad always wanted to learn more.”
Clark also possessed an ability to put those around him at ease, Kramek said. Ed Orlando, Clark’s academic adviser, said their relationship was a testament to Clark’s ability to connect with people and leave a lasting impression.
“Even in the short time I knew him, I really grew to like Chad,” said Orlando, adding he had only met him a handful of times for advising appointments. “I saw him a couple of times on campus in a sort of out-of-school context. It was always great to see him; he always had a big smile, always was friendly and open. He seemed like a very happy young guy, and it certainly is tragic to have heard of his death.”
Kramek said Clark balanced his laid-back attitude with a determination to succeed academically.
“Speaking to all of his professors, he just had a smile that he always had on his face,” Kramek said. “All of his professors loved that — he never took anything too seriously, but he knew when it was time to buckle down.”
Clark’s knack for combining a full academic agenda with a vibrant social life baffled his friends, Amoss said, adding the “wild, fun-loving” sophomore could always be counted on to make any situation more enjoyable.
“We’d have a great time out at night, and he’d stay up after and study and make a better grade than me,” he said.
A high-school soccer and baseball player, Clark enjoyed regular friendly competition and was often seen sitting on the back of his pickup truck or shooting hoops outside of the fraternity house. Mac Campbell, a sophomore animal sciences major who pledged AGR with Clark, said his friend “brought the fun” to the new member education process, but added he was as reliable as he was goofy.
“It’s tough to lose someone who’s that caring about other people,” Campbell said. “If you ever needed him, he was always available. He was a great example of what an AGR brother should be.”
Clark is survived by his parents, David Clark and Melinda and Rick Conner, of Denton; three brothers, Ben Clark, Mark Conner and Chase Conner, of Denton; two stepsisters, Lisa Conner, of Denton, and Katie McClements, of Dover, Del.; and a large extended family.
The brothers of AGR encourage members of the university community to attend a candlelight vigil in Clark’s honor Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. on Fraternity Row and to bring memories to share with his family members, who will be in attendance.
farrell at umdbk dot com, gulin at umdbk dot com
