Clark McCracken Hereford, Sr. of Huntsville passed away on September 9, 2015. He was born on April 26, 1921, in Gurley, Alabama, one of 14 children born to Josiah McCracken Hereford and Lucy Emma Butler Hereford. He attended public schools in Gurley, graduating from Madison County High School. He graduated with an Agricultural Science degree from Auburn University in 1943, where he lettered in track as a freshman, was a member of Alpha Zeta and Pi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic fraternities, and was a member of the Army ROTC. After college, he served in the Army during World War II, reaching the rank of First Lieutenant and spending nine months in the Philippines.
After his return from the service, Clark worked as an assistant county agent of Cherokee County, Alabama, for one year and then as sales manager of the Southern division of Pfister Associated Growers for nine years. He went into the construction business in 1957, starting his own home and swimming pool construction business, Hereford Construction Company, in 1959. After closing his construction business in 1998, he continued to work from his home for the rest of his life selling swimming pool covers and liners.
Clark was a leader and active member of numerous community, business and religious organizations. From 1961 until his death, he was an active member of the Huntsville Kiwanis Club where he served as president and vice president and on its board of directors for many years. He was one of the club’s greatest fundraisers, organizing and conducting programs raising money for the YMCA camp, the School Patrol, and the Farm Youth Programs of the Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis awards he received include the George F. Hixson Fellow Award, the J. Mercer Barnett Fellow Award, the Walter Zeller Fellowship Award, the Tablet of Honor awarded by the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville for his leadership and service with the Kiwanis International Foundation, and the Legion of Honor Award for 50 years of service. Clark served as president, vice president and board member of the Huntsville Madison County Builders Association, was elected to its Housing Hall of Fame, and served on the State Home Builders Association board. He was active with the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce, serving as a board member and housing chairman. He was a trustee of the Medical Center Hospital. He was active in the development of the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, holding office as president, vice president, and board member, and chaired the committee creating the arbitration program for the Better Business Bureau.
Clark joined First Presbyterian Church in 1951, where he worshipped and served the rest of his life. He was a deacon and elder, active in the North Alabama Presbytery and was selected by the Presbytery as a delegate to General Assembly, the highest court of the Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Madelyn Dees Hereford of Huntsville, his daughters, Bess Csar (Doug) and Susan Lewis, both of Huntsville, his sons, Clark Hereford, Jr. (Jenny) of Sterling, Va., and Will Hereford (Laurie) of Birmingham. He is survived by six grandchildren, Josiah Lewis, Madelyn Hereford, Billy Hereford, Faulkner Hereford, Patrick Hereford and Mac Hereford, and was predeceased by a granddaughter, Laurel Lewis. He is survived by his twin brother, Bledsoe D. Hereford (Bertha), and brother William V. Hereford, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to a service to celebrate his life at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 3:00 p.m., that will be followed by a visitation at the Gideon Blackburn House.
The family has asked that any donations be made to the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Foundation (Kiwanis Club of Huntsville, P.O. Box 19022, Huntsville, AL 35804) or the First Presbyterian Church (307 Gates Ave. S.E., Huntsville, AL 35801) designated for evangelism.
