It is with great sadness that we share that Professor Emeritus C. Walter Clark passed away on Nov. 9; he was 88 years old. Walter had a long and impactful career at Drake from 1963 to 1998 as professor and chair of the Department of Political Science.

Walter is remembered fondly by his faculty colleagues and by generations of students who he taught how to engage in political conversations. The Department’s Outstanding Senior Award in Politics is named in his honor and his family has supported that prize since its inception.  

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, four of his five children, his older sister, and many grandchildren. He loved educational travel, learning about world cultures and the environment. He had a significant and lasting impact on so many people around the world. He will be deeply missed. Walter’s celebration of life will be scheduled in the near future. You can share a memory and read his full obituary here.

— Gesine Gerhard, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences