Tom Clark, 58, Olympic referee and leader, passed away Friday. Memorial service on March 21 in Indiana
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Tom Clark of Fishers, Ind., 58, a 2008 Olympic referee and longtime leader within USA Wrestling, passed away on Friday.
A memorial service for Tom will be held on Tuesday, March 21 in Noblesville, Ind. A memorial trust is also being established for Tom’s son Hayden. (See bottom of story for complete information)
Clark had been an official for 35 years, and was the 1988 USA Wrestling Official of the Year. He was a referee at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and had worked dozens of World Championships and major international competitions at the Senior level.
“He is one of the true ‘good guys’ in the sport. Tom’s friendly and fun-loving spirit will be deeply missed. He was a true lover of the sport, deeply committed to helping others. The thoughts and prayers of the entire wrestling community are with Tom’s family at this difficult time of loss,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Clark has served as a Board member of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association for many years, and was the current USWOA Vice-President. He was active in USA Wrestling programs in Indiana and Ohio and was named 2005 ISWA Official of the Year. His commitment to wrestling was at all levels, from youth to high school and on the international level.
“He was an overall good guy. I have been on so many trips with him and we have been good friends for so long. Tom was an excellent referee. He worked himself up from the grassroots, and became well respected on the national and international levels. He was a wonderful human being. He could make you smile and always had a good comeback. He was a fun guy, who always brought people back to a sense of humor and humanity. I will miss him terribly. He made our officials organization better by his presence on it,” said U.S. Wrestling Officials President and fellow 2008 Olympic referee Rick Tucci.
Tom had friends all across the United States and the world, who shared his passion for wrestling, for officiating and for life. Dozens of these friends have posted their thoughts, along with photos and other tributes to Tom Clark on Facebook, which can be seen on Tom Clark’s Facebook page.
He received the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Officials Association Award for excellence in wrestling in 2007. Clark was very active as a top high school wrestling official in Indiana.
According to Tucci, Clark retired from international officiating after the Beijing Games, with a main reason being that he wanted to open up opportunities at the highest level for young, talented officials.
“That was just like Tom, to give the younger officials a chance. He did the ultimate for an official by working the Olympic Games, and helped as many officials as he could,” said Tucci.
A native of Bluffton, Ohio, Clark attended The Ohio State University and worked as an official for many years in Ohio before relocating to Indiana.
MEMORIAL SERVICE INFORMATION
Tom Clark, shown with his son Hayden died suddenly from a heart attack on Friday, March 10, 2017 at his home in Fishers, Ind.. Please join Tom's family and friends for a visitation beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 21st followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m. at Grace Church, 5504 E 146th St., Noblesville IN. 46062
In lieu of flowers donations will be accepted for Hayden's Trust Fund as follows: Trust for the Benefit of Hayden J Clark C/of Eric M Douthit CCH+A 2 North 9th Street Noblesville, IN Contact Jack Bowman at 941-883-1936 if any questions.
A memorial service for Tom will be held on Tuesday, March 21 in Noblesville, Ind. A memorial trust is also being established for Tom’s son Hayden. (See bottom of story for complete information)
Clark had been an official for 35 years, and was the 1988 USA Wrestling Official of the Year. He was a referee at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and had worked dozens of World Championships and major international competitions at the Senior level.
“He is one of the true ‘good guys’ in the sport. Tom’s friendly and fun-loving spirit will be deeply missed. He was a true lover of the sport, deeply committed to helping others. The thoughts and prayers of the entire wrestling community are with Tom’s family at this difficult time of loss,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Clark has served as a Board member of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association for many years, and was the current USWOA Vice-President. He was active in USA Wrestling programs in Indiana and Ohio and was named 2005 ISWA Official of the Year. His commitment to wrestling was at all levels, from youth to high school and on the international level.
“He was an overall good guy. I have been on so many trips with him and we have been good friends for so long. Tom was an excellent referee. He worked himself up from the grassroots, and became well respected on the national and international levels. He was a wonderful human being. He could make you smile and always had a good comeback. He was a fun guy, who always brought people back to a sense of humor and humanity. I will miss him terribly. He made our officials organization better by his presence on it,” said U.S. Wrestling Officials President and fellow 2008 Olympic referee Rick Tucci.
Tom had friends all across the United States and the world, who shared his passion for wrestling, for officiating and for life. Dozens of these friends have posted their thoughts, along with photos and other tributes to Tom Clark on Facebook, which can be seen on Tom Clark’s Facebook page.
He received the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Officials Association Award for excellence in wrestling in 2007. Clark was very active as a top high school wrestling official in Indiana.
According to Tucci, Clark retired from international officiating after the Beijing Games, with a main reason being that he wanted to open up opportunities at the highest level for young, talented officials.
“That was just like Tom, to give the younger officials a chance. He did the ultimate for an official by working the Olympic Games, and helped as many officials as he could,” said Tucci.
A native of Bluffton, Ohio, Clark attended The Ohio State University and worked as an official for many years in Ohio before relocating to Indiana.
MEMORIAL SERVICE INFORMATION
Tom Clark, shown with his son Hayden died suddenly from a heart attack on Friday, March 10, 2017 at his home in Fishers, Ind.. Please join Tom's family and friends for a visitation beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 21st followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m. at Grace Church, 5504 E 146th St., Noblesville IN. 46062
In lieu of flowers donations will be accepted for Hayden's Trust Fund as follows: Trust for the Benefit of Hayden J Clark C/of Eric M Douthit CCH+A 2 North 9th Street Noblesville, IN Contact Jack Bowman at 941-883-1936 if any questions.
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