Robert T. Clark, 79, Director Emeritus of the Maxwell Football Club, passed away on Saturday, April 25 after a brief illness.
Bob was the Executive Director of the Maxwell Football Club for 50 years, retiring in 2009. He oversaw the development of numerous programs that impacted football at all levels. Under his leadership the Maxwell Football Club established a national presence with the Maxwell Award as the top award in the ESPN College Awards show. He was a founding member and officer of the NCFAA (National Collegiate Football Awards Association).
Bob piloted the development of the Chuck Bednarik Award (Collegiate Defensive Player of the Year), the Francis “Reds” Bagnell Award (Contributions to Football), the George Munger Award (Collegiate Coach of the Year), and the “Greasy” Neale Award (Professional Coach of the Year). Mr. Clark also was a key player in the growth of the Maxwell Football Club’s High School Scholarship programs in the Philadelphia area and the Tri-State Player and Coach awards.
After his retirement, he received the 2009 Maxwell Football Club “Reds” Bagnell award for contributions to football and an award was given in his name for Contributions to High School Football. Local recipients of the Robert T. Clark Award included Mike Pettine, Jim Church, and Jim Algeo.
“The contribution that Bob Clark made to the game of football at all levels is immense and his service to the Maxwell Football Club impacted so many young people involved in the game and in the community,” offered MFC president Ron Jaworski. “Bob was always the first person to offer assistance to a person or group in need and his efforts truly epitomize the Club’s mission of developing young people into the future leaders of our country. The Maxwell Club is fortunate to have flourished under Bob’s stewardship for so many years”.
Mr. Clark is in both the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the American Football Foundation Hall of Fame. He is a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus Flaherty Council 3128 in Glenside, and also served as Treasurer for the City All Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
He was born in Philadelphia in 1935.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years Jeanette and children Donna Botti (Robert), Robert T. Clark Jr. (Sandy), and Jeanine Landi (Anthony), and his 6 grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass will be Thursday, April 30 at 11:30AM at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta RC Church, 256 Swamp Pike, Schwenksville. Visitation will also be Thursday from 9:30AM to 11:15AM at the church. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert’s name to Montgomery Co. SPCA, 19 E. Ridge Pike, Conshohocken, PA 19428.
Arrangements Catagnus Funeral Home, Royersford (610) 948-1950.
