For the majority of our students as well as junior faculty, the idea of retirement is such a far-off concept as to barely even register on their radar. But if you work long enough, eventually it becomes not just an interesting concept, but also reality.
Such is the case for David Clark, Instructor in Accounting, who is retiring this May with 14 years of service. Clark, 61, earned his BBA in Accounting from WT in 1986, his CPA in 1987, and his MPA (now known as MACC) in 2013. “I came here as a Pre-Med major, but in my sophomore year I switched to Accounting as my major, and Pre-Med as my minor. I had taken Accounting in high school, and I liked it,” Clark recalled.
He had served on former Engler COB Dean Dr. Neil Terry’s Advisory Council in 2011, and decided to leave behind a career in healthcare in exchange for the classroom. He started that Fall semester.
“When I graduated here, I knew that I would come back and teach. That was always a goal. I was the CEO of an organization, and knew that I would one day want to retire,” he said. It was a rapid transition from the corner office to the classroom, but not until after his company made a major contribution to the Amarillo Medical Center.
“We knew that Amarillo needed a children’s hospital. The hospital district worked with us. We set up the foundation of the children’s hospital, and that involved bringing in the specialists,” he exp[lained. He and his company spent a significant amount of time studying children’s hospitals in other Texas cities, to see how they were run. “We decided that a hospital-wthin-a-hospital was best for Amarillo, and we did that at Northwest Texas Hospital.”
Clark has long been well-liked by his students in both Financial and Managerial Accounting. These are foundational courses for all Engler COB students, covering everything from ledgers, balance sheets, and income statements, to cash flow statements. These are enough to make many students’ heads spin, but Clark brought these concepts to life and made them approachable to all. He has also taught courses in Personal Finance, Healthcare Management, and Healthcare Finance.
Clark’s retirement years can be summarized in one word: “Grandpa.” He and his wife plan to split their time between Dallas, where their adult children and grandkids live, and Amarillo, where his parents live. They also plan to continue their serious walking regime, as well as purchase e-bikes so they can extend their range. But most importantly, their lives will center around their grandchildren.
“For the first time in my life, I am going to follow what my wife and kids are doing. I am going to be there to support, plug in, and help out,” he said with a smile. He also hopes to take some Caribbean cruises with his wife.That’s not to say he won’t miss WT. “I am going to miss the family here. The people here are very unique. The culture, the fabric here, makes a healthy place to work,” Clark said effusively. “The faculty here is steeped in talent.”
While we will have one less talent among us, his family will now be the center of his life. Trading “Professor” for “Grandpa” is not such a bad thing.