November 23, 2021
This story is part of a Mizzou Alumni Association series recognizing 2021 Faculty Alumni Award honorees.
JOHN CLARK, BS ME ’62, MBA ’75
While flying a reconnaissance mission in 1967, John Clark — an Air Force captain at the time — was shot down over North Vietnam, surviving six years as a prisoner of Hỏa Lò, later known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Upon his repatriation, the former ROTC Cadet Corps commander returned to Mizzou for his MBA before returning to flying duty. In 1980 he joined the Missouri Air National Guard, retiring as a colonel in 1992.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts, and has readily shared his story — the trauma, subsequent battle with PTSD, and the faith that sustained him — with generations of MU students and others. His experiences have granted many with unique, personal insights into the realities of war, and his advocacy on behalf of his fellow veterans continues to this day.
In 1994, he was appointed co-chair of the USS Columbia Submarine Committee, responsible for christening and commissioning events on behalf of the newly built submarine and its crew. Thanks to his efforts, Mizzou’s Naval ROTC unit continues to host annual visits from the crew’s members, with many choosing to become Tigers themselves.
- House Manager, Phi Delta Theta, 1960
- Distinguished Military Graduate, awarded Regular Commission as 2nd Lt, Air Force ROTC, 1962
- Professional Engineering Certificate, Missouri State Board of Engineers, 1982
- Director, North Central Region, American Ex-Prisoners of War, 1985-2017
- Advisory Board, Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum, 2012-Current
- Member, Congresswoman Hartzler’s Military Advisory Council, 2017-Current
Clark is the son of two Mizzou alumni and a native of Columbia, Missouri, where he lives with his wife, Anne. He is a life member of the Mizzou Alumni Association.