Doc Clark, Our Hero, Rest in Peace
It is with both sadness and admiration that the Task Force learned on May 18 of the death of Dr. Alpha S. Clark Jr. of McBain. Doc was born January 21, 1934 in Flint. His wife of 49 years, Marlene, preceded him in death in 2004. They have three children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University in 1958 and immediately opened a vet practice and a dairy farm in Osceola County. In 1965 they relocated to McBain in Missaukee County. Marlene and Alpha won widespread recognition for always putting his patients first, as well as breeding award winning Holsteins.
In the mid-1970’, Alpha received international attention for his role in uncovering the Michigan PBB crisis. For example, he was interviewed in the British documentary on the PBB Crisis “The Poisoning of Michigan.” The many books on the PBB accident devote much attention to his contribution. Yet, his real notoriety came from his work for and engagement with the plight of Michigan dairy farmers whose herds were contaminated with PBB.
When his Alma Mater would not cooperate in the investigation of the poisoning of Michigan farm animals, he worked with scientists at Purdue University to verify the contaminants in the herds in Missaukee, Wexford and neighboring counties. In retaliation, he was briefly charged with violating federal law for shipping diseased (frozen) calves across state lines. His farmers came to his defense and Doc Clark emerged, rightly, as the hero of the PBB crisis.
Yet, fame did not change Doc Clark. He still worked tirelessly to treat the animals on the farms of his customers. The meticulous PBB records of his practice have been placed in the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University. John Fierst, the reference head at Clarke, says Doc Clarks’ papers, "[Are] an important part of the historical record.” Norm Keon, Task Force board member and epidemiologist says, "Dr. Clark is a hero in this whole thing." Doc Clark said, "it didn't matter winning, it was about my clients being able to stay in business and make a living. It was a matter of doing what's right."
Private family services will be held at the Burkholder Family Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Boven officiating in McBain and a Celebration of Life will be on Monday from noon until 3 p.m. at the Hughston Cow Camp at McBain. Burial will be next to his wife in East Fork Cemetery, Barryton, Michigan.
The Task Force and all Michigan has lost a man of professional dedication, integrity and kindness. He is a model for all of us.
[Quotations from Cadillac News obituary, May 20, 2022]