Claude E. Sparks, 89, passed away Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at his home in Huntsville, Alabama. He was born on February 16, 1929 in Imboden, Arkansas to the late Lucy and Claude E. Sparks, Sr. Mr. Sparks graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism. His lifelong career was in the newspaper business which started with delivering newspapers for the Arkansas Gazette in Imboden, and working at the Jonesboro Sun in Jonesboro. Post-college, he worked for several newspapers in Arkansas and Texas before moving to Russellville, Alabama in 1953 to establish The Franklin Citizen along with Arthur F. Slaton of Moulton, AL. After six issues, they purchased the competing Franklin County Times and Mr. Sparks purchased Slaton’s interest in 1965. Mr. Sparks served as the President of the Alabama Press Association in 1976; served as Chairman of a committee to pass an ad valorem tax to build a new high school for Russellville, AL.; served on a three-man committee to settle a violent strike at a Russellville apparel plant, which saved 300 jobs and $3.5 million payroll for Russellville; and received a community service award from the Alabama Press Association as a result. Mr. Sparks was awarded U.S. Steel Corporation’s weekly newspaper “Alabama Journalist of the Year” in 1964. Mr. Sparks’ editorial page took on several other community issues, including the retirement of the party-line telephone system and the effort to fluoridate the water system in Russellville, both of which ended successfully. He organized and was the first chairman of the Russellville Jaycees’ Franklin County Fair and received the Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award in 1958.
Mr. Sparks is survived by his wife of 66 years, Anne Weldy Sparks; daughter, Amy Sparks Epps (Bruce) of Huntsville; son, Thomas Weldy Sparks of Birmingham; two granddaughters, Dr. Sarah Grace Epps and Emily Anne Epps; and daughter-in-law, Lisa Sparks of Hazel Green, AL. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Joseph Andrew Sparks.
The family will receive friends at Laughlin Funeral Service Home on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 10:00 – 11:00 am with a graveside service at Franklin Memory Gardens, Russellville, Alabama, following at 2:00 pm.
