San Diego County
Biographies
HARRY
CAMP CLARK
As a civil engineer Harry Camp Clark
was closely identified with development work in the east and south before his
removal to the west and during the period of his residence in San Diego,
covering twenty-two years, he has become recognized as a lawyer of high
attainments, also accomplishing much as a civic worker. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, June 8,
1883, a son of Herman E. and Melissa C. (Heath) Clark, who are now
deceased. The father, a scion of one of
the old families of New England, became manager of large lumber interests in
Michigan and had the foresight and sagacity of the successful businessman.
Reared in the Green mountain [sic]
state [sic] Harry C. Clark was graduated from the academy at Derby, Vermont, as
a member of the class of 1901, and at Burlington attended the University of
Vermont, which awarded him the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil
Engineering. Leaving that institution of
learning in 1907, he located near Boston, Massachusetts, where he followed his
profession for a time, and afterward was engaged in engineering work at
Louisville, Kentucky. In 1911 he
established his home in San Diego and decided to qualify for another line of
professional activity, taking up the study of law. Admitted to the bar of California in 1915, he
opened an office in San Diego but laid aside his practice two years later to
enlist in the United States Army for service in the World war [sic]. He was commissioned a second lieutenant, soon
afterward advancing to the rank of captain, and went to the front with the Fifth
Division. Returning to this country in
1919, he was mustered out of the service and resumed his legal work in San
Diego. He became junior member of the
law firm of Tomkins & Clark and gave to his practice his undivided
attention until 1927, when he was elected mayor of San Diego. He brought to the office an earnest desire to
serve the municipality, as well as a clear understanding of its needs and
problems, and gave to the city such an efficient administration that he was
reelected in 1929 for another term of two years.
On the 6th of June, 1911,
Mr. Clark was married to Miss Georgia L. Kessinger,
of New Albany, Indiana, and they reside at 4252 Wetherby
street [sic], San Diego, while Mr. Clark’s office is
in the San Diego Trust & Savings building [sic]. His religious views are in harmony with the
doctrines of the Congregational Church and his political allegiance is given to
the republican [sic] party [sic]. He
lends the weight of his support to all movements destined to prove of benefit
to his city and state and is a reader and student of the history of
California. He enjoys the sports of
fishing and hunting and has executive connection with the board of directors of
the Izaak Walton League. He belongs to the Athletic and University
Clubs of San Diego and his college fraternity is Kappa Sigma. He is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the
American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. While devoted to the interests of his
clients, Mr. Clark never forgets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the
majesty of the law and his professional colleagues, who are thoroughly
appreciative of his worth, have honored him with important offices. In 1925 he was elected to the board of
directors of the San Diego County Bar Association, of which he became vice
president in 1926 and president in 1927.
He is also a member of the California Bar Association and the American
Bar Association.
Transcribed by Jeanne Turner.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 491-492,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Jeanne
Turner.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN DIEGO
BIOGRAPHIES