Mr. David Clark was the founder of David Clark Co, a pioneer of aerospace clothing and the recipient of the Presidential Certificate of Merit. Mr Clark was an internationally recognized for his pioneering work in protective clothing and equipment for high-altitude fliers and astronauts. He and his team of experts were unique in that none of them had a formal degree in science. Mr Clark's theory was that not knowing where scientific barriers were, was actually an advantage.
David Clark began as head knitter at Worcester Knitting Co, until he and his father left to found a garment manufacturing company that produced unique knitted material, first used in undergarments. During World War II, Mr. Clark began to research and develop flight suits, such as the pressurized "G Suit", that kept pilots from blacking out. Pilots in the X-series rockets were fitted for these tailor-made suits in Worcester. They were followed by many astronauts who came for fittings. The most famous were the Gemini EVA (Extra vehicular activities) suits, and later astronauts who wore shuttle launch entry suits (LES).
Mr Clark also manufactured sound protectors and head sets for Army, Navy, Air Force and high noise environment use; as well as protective clothing for industrial safety and the medical field. Mr. Clark retired in 1961, but then went on to found Clark associates, which developed systems for exercising paralyzed limbs, and for additional medical devices. Among his numerous awards were the Presidential Certificate of Merit, given by President Truman in 1947, the Exceptional Serivce Medal from the Air Force in 1958, and the Air Power Award from the Air Force Association in 1962. In 1952, Mr. Clark was made an honary member of the Aero Medical Association and an honorary Fellow in 1962. Finally, in 1959, Mr. Clark was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Holy Cross College in Worcester.
David Clark was born in Worcester, the son of Lewis W and Maryanne (Myron) Clark. He lived in that city for most of his life, until moving to Denver in 1964. At the time of his death Mr. Clark left his wife, Mildred J. (Brown) Clark; three daughters, Madelyn C Kaufman, Winnie A Sears and Betty Jane Clark; two sisters, Bertha Upham and Adelaide O'Brien. Two sons had predeceased him; Myron L Clark and Eddy W Clark.
David Clark began as head knitter at Worcester Knitting Co, until he and his father left to found a garment manufacturing company that produced unique knitted material, first used in undergarments. During World War II, Mr. Clark began to research and develop flight suits, such as the pressurized "G Suit", that kept pilots from blacking out. Pilots in the X-series rockets were fitted for these tailor-made suits in Worcester. They were followed by many astronauts who came for fittings. The most famous were the Gemini EVA (Extra vehicular activities) suits, and later astronauts who wore shuttle launch entry suits (LES).
Mr Clark also manufactured sound protectors and head sets for Army, Navy, Air Force and high noise environment use; as well as protective clothing for industrial safety and the medical field. Mr. Clark retired in 1961, but then went on to found Clark associates, which developed systems for exercising paralyzed limbs, and for additional medical devices. Among his numerous awards were the Presidential Certificate of Merit, given by President Truman in 1947, the Exceptional Serivce Medal from the Air Force in 1958, and the Air Power Award from the Air Force Association in 1962. In 1952, Mr. Clark was made an honary member of the Aero Medical Association and an honorary Fellow in 1962. Finally, in 1959, Mr. Clark was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Holy Cross College in Worcester.
David Clark was born in Worcester, the son of Lewis W and Maryanne (Myron) Clark. He lived in that city for most of his life, until moving to Denver in 1964. At the time of his death Mr. Clark left his wife, Mildred J. (Brown) Clark; three daughters, Madelyn C Kaufman, Winnie A Sears and Betty Jane Clark; two sisters, Bertha Upham and Adelaide O'Brien. Two sons had predeceased him; Myron L Clark and Eddy W Clark.
Mr. David Clark was the founder of David Clark Co, a pioneer of aerospace clothing and the recipient of the Presidential Certificate of Merit. Mr Clark was an internationally recognized for his pioneering work in protective clothing and equipment for high-altitude fliers and astronauts. He and his team of experts were unique in that none of them had a formal degree in science. Mr Clark's theory was that not knowing where scientific barriers were, was actually an advantage.
David Clark began as head knitter at Worcester Knitting Co, until he and his father left to found a garment manufacturing company that produced unique knitted material, first used in undergarments. During World War II, Mr. Clark began to research and develop flight suits, such as the pressurized "G Suit", that kept pilots from blacking out. Pilots in the X-series rockets were fitted for these tailor-made suits in Worcester. They were followed by many astronauts who came for fittings. The most famous were the Gemini EVA (Extra vehicular activities) suits, and later astronauts who wore shuttle launch entry suits (LES).
Mr Clark also manufactured sound protectors and head sets for Army, Navy, Air Force and high noise environment use; as well as protective clothing for industrial safety and the medical field. Mr. Clark retired in 1961, but then went on to found Clark associates, which developed systems for exercising paralyzed limbs, and for additional medical devices. Among his numerous awards were the Presidential Certificate of Merit, given by President Truman in 1947, the Exceptional Serivce Medal from the Air Force in 1958, and the Air Power Award from the Air Force Association in 1962. In 1952, Mr. Clark was made an honary member of the Aero Medical Association and an honorary Fellow in 1962. Finally, in 1959, Mr. Clark was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Holy Cross College in Worcester.
David Clark was born in Worcester, the son of Lewis W and Maryanne (Myron) Clark. He lived in that city for most of his life, until moving to Denver in 1964. At the time of his death Mr. Clark left his wife, Mildred J. (Brown) Clark; three daughters, Madelyn C Kaufman, Winnie A Sears and Betty Jane Clark; two sisters, Bertha Upham and Adelaide O'Brien. Two sons had predeceased him; Myron L Clark and Eddy W Clark.
David Clark began as head knitter at Worcester Knitting Co, until he and his father left to found a garment manufacturing company that produced unique knitted material, first used in undergarments. During World War II, Mr. Clark began to research and develop flight suits, such as the pressurized "G Suit", that kept pilots from blacking out. Pilots in the X-series rockets were fitted for these tailor-made suits in Worcester. They were followed by many astronauts who came for fittings. The most famous were the Gemini EVA (Extra vehicular activities) suits, and later astronauts who wore shuttle launch entry suits (LES).
Mr Clark also manufactured sound protectors and head sets for Army, Navy, Air Force and high noise environment use; as well as protective clothing for industrial safety and the medical field. Mr. Clark retired in 1961, but then went on to found Clark associates, which developed systems for exercising paralyzed limbs, and for additional medical devices. Among his numerous awards were the Presidential Certificate of Merit, given by President Truman in 1947, the Exceptional Serivce Medal from the Air Force in 1958, and the Air Power Award from the Air Force Association in 1962. In 1952, Mr. Clark was made an honary member of the Aero Medical Association and an honorary Fellow in 1962. Finally, in 1959, Mr. Clark was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Holy Cross College in Worcester.
David Clark was born in Worcester, the son of Lewis W and Maryanne (Myron) Clark. He lived in that city for most of his life, until moving to Denver in 1964. At the time of his death Mr. Clark left his wife, Mildred J. (Brown) Clark; three daughters, Madelyn C Kaufman, Winnie A Sears and Betty Jane Clark; two sisters, Bertha Upham and Adelaide O'Brien. Two sons had predeceased him; Myron L Clark and Eddy W Clark.
