TITLE
Recommendation to consider renaming El Dorado Park West Senior Center the “Dr. Thomas Clark Community Center” in recognition of the legacy, contributions and services of former Long Beach Councilman and Mayor, Tom Clark, and forward this item to the Parks and Recreation Commission for additional discussion prior to forwarding to City Council for approval.
DISCUSSION
Tom Clark was the consummate public servant. After two years in the military he enrolled at Long Beach City College where he excelled in academics and was a Track and Field athlete. In the early 1950’s he earned BS, OD and MS degrees at the University of California Berkeley then opened his optometric practice in Los Altos in 1953. Prior to being elected to public office, Tom Clark served on the Long Beach Parks & Recreation Commission. In the early 1960’s, Dr. Clark led the Commission’s effort to secure a bond for the purchase of the land that is now El Dorado Park. It is safe to say that without his efforts, the open space we enjoy today would have been developed for commercial purposes.
In 1966 he was elected to the Long Beach City Council for the Fourth District where he served for 30 years (1966-1996) including three terms as Mayor of Long Beach (1975-1978, 1978-1980 and 1982-1984). In 1981 - 1982 he served as president of the League of California Cities.
After Dr. Clark retired from the Long Beach City Council, he was elected to the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees for Area Five where he served for 16 years including several terms as Board President. During his tenure at Long Beach City College he served as President of both the California Community College Trustees and the Community College League of California (2006). In 1976 he was inducted into the Long Beach City College Hall of Fame for his community leadership and in 2007 he was elected to the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions for his accomplishments as a Track and Field athlete.
No one in Long Beach history has...
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