Oklahoma jeweler BC Clark Jr. dies at 101

Benton Clyde Clark Jr., a pioneer in the industry who was known for his uncompromising integrity and humble spirit, died Wednesday at the age of 101.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

Oklahoma City--Benton Clyde Clark Jr., a pioneer in the industry who worked into his 90s and was known for his uncompromising integrity, died Wednesday at the age of 101.

The man known as B.C. Clark Jr. was born April 4, 1913 in Purcell, Okla.

He met the “love of his life,” Ruth Carroll, while a student at Oklahoma City University. The pair were married on Leap Day in 1936 and stayed together for 59 years until her death in 1995.

He wed again a couple of years later, marrying Jeroldine Zachritz. The pair stayed together for 11 years, until her death in 2008.

Like so many of his generation, Clark served in the military during World War II, in the Navy as a gunnery.

After the war, he returned to his “first love,” the jewelry business that his father B.C. Clark Sr. opened in 1892. He worked in his family’s Oklahoma City jewelry store, BC Clark Jewelers, until his early 90s, last serving as chairman emeritus of B.C. Clark Inc.

In addition to his work at the store, Clark, who was known for his humble spirit, also gave back to his community through his involvement in civic and church-related work.

He created endowment funds at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and established the B.C. Clark Jr. Chair endowment fund at his alma mater’s school of business, Meinders.

He was president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma City Retailers Association, the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Retail Jewelers Association and the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America, where he established another endowment fund, the “Go To Camp” fund.

Clark also was a past regional vice president of Jewelers of America.

Among his many honors are the Pathmaker Award from the Oklahoma County Historical Society, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Jewelers Association and an honorary doctorate of commercial science from Oklahoma City University.

He was a long-time member of the Fortune Club, Men’s Dinner Club, the Quail Creek Golf and Country Club and was a founding member of May Avenue United Methodist Church and a devoted member of Nichols Hills United Methodist Church.

Clark was preceded in death by his first wife Ruth; his second wife Jeroldine; parents Flora and B.C. Clark Sr.; a daughter-in-law, Johanna Clark; and five sisters: Vera Evans, Mary Lee Clark,

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Floreta Tomlin, Clara Mae Stuhr and Sally Langston.

He is survived by two sons, Dr. Benton C. Clark II and Jim C. Clark and his wife Carolyn; and seven grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Services took place Saturday at Nichols Hills United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boy Scouts of America Last Frontier Council, 3031 N. W. 64th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.