FROM A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL TO HARVARD

By Dr. Edward Clark

In From a One-Room School to Harvard, Edward Clark tells the story of his journey from growing up in a small rural community in Tennessee to establishing and managing a successful engineering firm in Miami, Florida. Written as he approached eighty years of age, Edward shares the stories of the ups and downs of life with humor and honesty. This book is an encouraging and uplifting read that shows that life is made up of decisions both big and small that enable you to follow your dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685264246

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FROM A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL TO HARVARD

Dr. Edward Clark

ISBN 978-1-68526-423-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68526-425-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68526-424-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Dr. Edward Clark

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Appalachia

Clark Family Roots

Beginnings

Adult

Corporate

Retirement (2004)

Dear Reader,

We grew up in a family that enjoyed conversation and storytelling. Our dad would share funny stories from his childhood as well as serious accounts of when he had to make big life decisions. He always kept a journal and occasionally he would write down a story or two and talk about writing a book. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, he decided that he wanted to write down his life story and experiences for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He wanted them to understand the ups and downs that were part of the journey that led him to the place where he was. As was typical for Dad, when he set his mind to something, he accomplished it. He wrote day and night, even throughout chemo treatments, and he completed his manuscript. Dad passed away on April 18, 2020 and our sweet mother, his soulmate, passed less than one year later. We are honored that we are able to share his story with you.

Janet and Carolyn

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Preface

As I reach eighty years of age, I realize that my life has covered four equal time periods and that I consider each to be great. I was raised and educated in Tennessee. During the second period, I married Patricia, and we raised Carolyn and Janet. I was a graduate student and performed as a consulting engineer. During the third period, I expanded the engineering business and traveled extensively. The fourth period includes planning for retirement and moving to Tennessee.

A lot of life challenges and opportunities have happened during the time this book covers. Excitement such as attending a one-room schoolhouse, being a member of the Tennessee National Guard, attending Harvard University, raising my family while running an engineering business, and retiring while learning to play the banjo is explained herein.

I trust this book will at least entertain my great-grandchildren.

Clark family at grandaughter Hannah’s wedding (front: Edward and Patricia, middle: Layla, Jorja, Logan, back: Luke, Carolyn, Patrick, Rachel, Hannah, Zachary, Laura, Kassi, Julia, David, Janet, Andrew, Shannon)

Prologue

Over the years, Patricia and I enjoyed walking through bookstores, both of us leaving with at least one book. Sometimes, one of us would choose a biography or autobiography; and we both agreed we would someday write a book, maybe an autobiography for our grandchildren. We never got around to writing more than a short story here and there until a few months ago when I was diagnosed with cancer, and I expected the end was near. I decided to write an autobiography, and Patricia, as always, agreed to help me even though she thought I should be concentrating on recuperating.

Once I began writing the book, I called it a time line. I realized that I did not know a lot about my large group of ancestors even though I always enjoyed the ones I met or read about. I immediately made a few phone calls and reread some of the few printed materials I gathered over the years. I soon realized that the only practical thing I could do was to write about the ones I knew and apologize that a portion of my book was incomplete.

My siblings and I have always loved one another and were happily raised by our loving parents. Each child left home soon after graduating from high school and visited one another less as we each raised our families and advanced in our chosen careers. I hope the following paragraphs explain my purpose for writing this book.

For almost sixty years, Patricia and I have lived away from our family members and tried to join up with them at various vacation times. Our get-togethers have been picnics or a few occasions, such as weddings or attending funerals for a relative. Sometimes we would exchange a recent news piece, but most of the time, we were just happy to see one another again. We knew where one another lived and what type of profession each was pursuing, but most of the short information exchanges were about our children. I hope that this time line will provide some details of our life story that may be of interest to my dear siblings.

We have five adult grandchildren, each of whom is proceeding with life and professional careers. Although we see one another occasionally, and each appears to be successful with their family and career life, I think it might be helpful to demonstrate our life history in that success, as well as happiness, moves along with short ups and downs. A specific mountain climb can be challenging and exhaustive until reaching the top, and then happiness and success are jointly enjoyed, and sometimes exaggerated, before undertaking another climb. I hope this report will have some positive effect to their thought ability.

We currently have four young great-grandchildren whom I know are going to be successful in whatever activity they undertake. We get to see each of them occasionally, and we always have a nice and happy visit. I am hopeful that when they are grown enough to read and understand this report, they can enjoy the story of Great-Grandma’s and Great-Grandpa’s life histories.

Finally, we have a large list of friends, professionals, and clients that have encouraged and enhanced the lives of Patricia and me. Most of these entries have occurred at individual, and often short, periods during our career. In case some of them are interested, it may be helpful to allow each of them to see some history of my entire time line.

Appalachia

The following section on Appalachia sets the background for much of my time line. My parents were from Pickett County, Tennessee, while Patricia’s parents were from Putnam County. Both Patricia and I spent most of our childhood in Cumberland County. The Appalachian Mountains extend from New York to Alabama and consist of a variety of geology and subcultures. The mountain range has been called the wall that separated Appalachia from the rest of the world. The US government has separated the Appalachian range into three distinct regions—North, Central, and South. The southern region includes Pickett, Cumberland, and Putnam Counties in Tennessee. Each of the three counties in the southern region are quite distinct due to geography, natural resources, and origin of early settlers. However, the