Obituary: Hoyt C. Clark – Men’s Basketball 1945-49 – Feb. 4, 2021

November 09, 1928 – February 04, 2021

Richmond, TX ~ Hoyt Clark, after a multi-month battle with cancer, passed away at his home in Richmond, Texas on February 4, 2021 with his wife Jewel and other family members by his side.

Hoyt was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma November 9, 1928 and he was 92 years old. A child during the Great Depression, he suffered the death of his Father at 9 years old, and was a teenager during WWII. He developed a strength of character that would propel him forward and allow him to inspire and influence all those who crossed his path. 

He later grew up in Westlake, Louisiana. Hoyt attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI) now UL in Lafayette, LA on a basketball scholarship. It was there one winter that he was hit in the head by a snowball thrown by a pretty co-ed, Jackie Haydel, who later became his wife. He earned a B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1949. Early in his engineering career, he worked at industrial facilities in Louisiana, South Carolina, and West Virginia.   

In 1961, he moved his growing family to Alvin, Texas and began a long career with Monsanto. Later in his career he was the Manager of the Maintenance and Engineering Department of the Monsanto Chocolate Bayou Plant south of Alvin. Next, for seven years, Hoyt was a Vice President project manager with ENSR International to lead the clean-up of waste petroleum superfund sites.

Hoyt was very civic-minded. He was a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Alvin, TX and was a member of the Lions Club and on the Alvin Community College Board.

His energy and zest for life continued after retirement with a seven-year career running a high-end kitchen cabinet manufacturing business. He always enjoyed working with wood. His interest in exotic woods like teak and mahogany led him to purchase three different used Grand Banks yachts across six years, and restore the hulls, decking and rails on each vessel. He loved the ocean and lakes, and enjoyed boating, fishing, family camping vacations and the outdoors.

His infectious personality impacted all who knew him. His extraordinary ability to give each person his full attention, sincerely listening to them, making them feel appreciated and understood, was legendary. Hoyt was a people-person beyond all description and had three priorities of faith, family and friends that guided his life.   

Hoyt is survived by his loving wife Jewel Clark of Richmond, TX,  his brother Jack Clark and wife Sue of Lake Charles, LA, daughters Molly Wiltz and husband Bernard of Lafayette, LA,  Terry Myers and husband Clif of Round Rock, TX, Cathy Tillinger and husband John of Alvin, TX, and Celeste Cox and husband Les of Alvin, TX,  sons Bill Clark and wife Debbie of Friendswood, TX and Matt Clark and wife Claron of Alvin, TX. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. A picture was taken at his 90th birthday party, that included over 80 people related to him by blood or marriage. He is also survived by nine nieces and nephews and their children.

Hoyt was preceded in death by his mother Mildred Brown of Lawton, Oklahoma, father Hoyt William Clark of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and his loving wife of 62 years, Jacqueline Haydel Clark, of Alvin, TX.

The world was a very bright place with him in it, and Hoyt will be greatly missed.

Melancon Funeral Home, (337) 896-6366, is in charge of arrangements. 

Due to COVID-19, memorial plans for Hoyt will be delayed for some weeks, so that more people can safely attend. There will be a service in Alvin, TX followed by a service and burial in Carencro, Louisiana on dates to be announced by the family at a later time. 

Athletic Network Footnote by Dr. Ed Dugas.
Appreciation expressed to John Porche who provided lead information on Clark.
Click here for a the photo gallery of 1949 Men’s Basketball.