Lt. Commander Asa A. "Ace" Clark

Stanford's Crew Coach 1948-1949

Lieutenant Commander Asa Allan "Ace" Clark III was born in Pasadena, CA in 1917 and  was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1937.  He rowed for Navy from 1938-1940.  He graduated and was commissioned as an ensign in 1941.   After graduation, he was assigned to the U.S.S. Hovey, a destroyer assigned to sweep for mines in the Pacific during World War II.  He eventually commanded the ship in 1944.

In 1945, he commanded the U.S.S. Carmick until June 1947.  In 1948, he became an instructor with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at Stanford University.  In the fall of 1948, he became a volunteer coach to the fledgling Stanford University crew.  The crew team was not recognized by the University as an official sport and did not receive funding as a result.  Clark worked without pay while training the passionate students who wanted to revive the sport.  After the Stanford crew competed at the Poughkeepsie Regatta for the first time since 1915, Clark was transferred to Pearl Harbor, leaving behind the still "orphaned" crew program.

Clark went onto command several other ships and saw action during the Korean War.  By 1959, he had attained the rank of Captain and was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and a number of other decorations during his 26 years in the Navy.

He passed away October 7, 2003 at the age of 86.

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