Charles Morris Clark, former president of the National Truck Equipment Association, recently died at his home in Albuquerque NM after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 72 years old.
“He loved the truck equipment industry in which he spent his entire adult life,” the association said in a release.
Clark was a member of NTEA’s board of trustees from 1978 to 1983, during some of the association’s “most formative years.”
He was born in Denver CO but relocated at an early age to Albuquerque after his father, Morris H. “Bud” Clark, was chosen to open a local Winter-Weiss Co branch. In 1964, Bud acquired a controlling interest in the business, which became Clark Truck Equipment Co. Clark and his brother, Don Clark, operated the company following Bud’s death in 1973.
Clark attended the University of Mexico, where he met Patty, his wife of 47 years until her death in 2015.
He also served in the Navy, where he was a medic and instructor during Vietnam War era. He earned a private pilot’s license and a hot air balloon license, and he served on the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s board of directors for 18 years.
“He was a likable, loyal and caring father, husband, brother, friend and businessman,” NTEA said. “He was passionate about gardening, traveling, hot air ballooning, cooking and eating delicious food, flying his drone, fly fishing and spending time with his family, friends and schnauzers.”
Chuck is survived by his son, Matthew Clark, daughter Katherine (Kitty) Clark-Fritz and brother Don Clark, who remains with the family firm.