Isaac Edgar Clark, a fourth generation Schulenburger and son of Harvey and Ruby Clark, was born on December 9, 1919. His death occurred at age 87 on May 28, 2007.

I.E. was a dedicated Christian with a deep faith evidenced by his continuing to read the Bible daily after he had read it seven times. He lived with a desire to use his intelligence and creativity to prepare young people for a "better life" by treating them with respect and challenging them to reach the highest levels of their ability.

After graduating from Schulenburg High School, I.E. received Bachelor's and Master's degrees with highest honors from the University of Texas, Austin, holding memberships in Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

I.E. and his bride moved to his family's Bermuda Valley Farm, Schulenburg, which received a Texas historical marker in 1969 honoring the site of one of the earliest race tracks in Texas and the breeding of thoroughbred horses. This and a 1988 One Hundred Year celebration party and induction into the Texas Family Land Heritage Program were among highlights of I.E.'s family life.

As a Schulenburg High School faculty member for 32 years, I.E. gained recognition in journalism and drama. His UIL one-act plays advanced to state competition 15 times. His students won first place five times, second place five times, and third place two times. His typing students won two state championships.

I.E.'s experience as Sports Editor of the Daily Texan at UT helped him start a journalism class, which resulted in his students winning four UIL state championships in journalism and I.E.'s being named Outstanding Journalism Teacher of Texas at the state UIL meet in 1967. Also, he instigated and sponsored the first school yearbook, the Roundup, in 1945-46.

He combined his love of journalism and sports and boosted Schulenburg Shorthorn football spirit by running the sidelines during each game and phoning in the play-by-play description and scores to the city newspapers.

The Shorthorn, the high school newspaper which I.E. edited as a senior and sponsored as a teacher, won top ratings so many times that the ILPC asked I.E. to write a handbook on publishing a high school newspaper, which was distributed throughout Texas.

Sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, I.E. helped teach journalism seminars for teachers at UT from 1961-66. He participated in the Texas Education Commission's setting up a curriculum for English, speech, journalism, and other language arts courses.

Perhaps the biggest and most lasting change I.E. helped make on the Schulenburg High School campus was transformation of an old WPA gymnasium into a first-class theater that opened in 1968 with a performance by the Houston Ballet, an art form seen for the first time by most of the audience. Consultation by the UT drama department helped locals with the remodeling project that received national attention.

Requests from other teachers for I.E.'s cuttings of the classics for UIL competition resulted in his starting a family play-publishing business in 1956-still active as I.E. Clark Publications. After I.E.'s retirement in 1977, the play business became a much loved full-time job and a connection with many friends made through the years.

I.E. accepted a commission to write and direct a 1973 Sesquicentennial Pageant for Columbus, Texas, a project that took up to two years and involved more than 200 people. For the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986, he wrote and produced a similar pageant as a gift to Fayette County.

I.E. helped found Backstage, Inc., a fine arts council covering five counties, directing most of its plays for 25 years, and helping to secure its permanent home in Wolters Park, Schulenburg, in 1984.

His last big honor came in 2005 when he was named one of four recipients of the Texas Educational Theatre Association's Emeritus Award, based on his contributions to Texas educational drama since World War II.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lila Rhea Norwood Clark; daughters, Candace Clark and Robin Clark Hudnall; and son-in-law Clayton Hudnall. Grandchildren are Elizabeth Worthington Palacios and her husband Martin, Emily Worthington, and Caroline and Clark Hudnall.

During its July, 2007, Schulenburg school district board meeting, members voted unanimously to "name the present auditorium after Clark, as well as any newly-constructed replacements in the future." A large sign near the entrance now reads: Schulenburg Independent School District, I. E. Clark Fine Arts Building.