Trustee Receives President's Award for Commitment to Bradley

November 5, 2019

University trustee Bob Clark, was recognized by his alma mater with the esteemed 2019 President’s Award. Since 1975 the Bradley University President’s Award has recognized those who have been continuously involved with the University, who have shown an inspiring commitment to the mission of empowering young people for success in their personal and professional lives.

The Denver resident graduated from Bradley in 1967 with a degree in accounting and started his career in the energy industry. Bob started his own energy company in the 1990s and today is CEO of 3 Bear Energy, specializing in midstream operations.

Bob and his wife Kathy, established the RJ Clark Foundation in 2004. Their foundation helps children facing disability, illness, or lack of opportunity and gives them access to education and safe places to be a kid. They have been generous donors to the Tennyson Center for Children, The Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver and many other organizations focused on children.

At Bradley, the couple made the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center possible and recently the Business Analytics Lab in the new Business and Engineering Convergence Center.  Bob is a member of Bradley’s prestigious Centurion Society, and he retired from the Bradley Board of Trustees this month as his term expired. He served on the board since 2012 and over the years, he lead the Advancement Committee, the Finance and Property Committee, and the Audit Committee.

Nearly 300 alumni, donors and supporters from around the country attended the dinner event to honor the Clarks. Most of the Clark family was present at the award ceremony as well, just as they are in many of the foundation’s decisions. Bob told the audience that he holds an annual meeting where everyone in the family does a presentation on where they think the foundation should give, complete with power points and sometimes marketing materials. Even the youngest grandchildren participate.

Bob and Kathy Clark and the RJ Clark Family Foundation are an inspiration and a challenge to everyone to reexamine how we can make a long-term impact and make the world a better place.