Iguana, June 2008


Dr. Robert F. Clarke, Emporia, Kansas, passed away on 2
April 2008. He was born 18 October 1919 in

Portsmouth, Virginia. He married Elaine McNabb of Melvern,
Kansas, in 1947. In 1948, he and Elaine moved to Emporia,
Kansas, where he was a stationary engineer for the Santa Fe
Railroad and a freelance illustrator. Dr. Clarke always had a pas-
sion for reptiles and amphibians, and had amassed a large col-
lection. After a rain, one of the biology professors from Kansas
State Teachers College (now Emporia State University) found
him collecting frogs in a ditch and encouraged him to begin
college to pursue his passion, which he did in 1952 at the age
of 33. He completed his Bachelors Degree in 1955 and Masters
Degree in Biology in 1957 at Emporia State University. He
received a prestigious National Academy of Science Fellowship
to complete his Doctorate in Zoology at the University of
Oklahoma in 1963. The family returned to Emporia and he
taught at Roosevelt High School on the Emporia State
University campus, then became a Biology Department faculty
member at Emporia State University in 1968. He was
Chairman of the Department of Biology at Emporia State
University from 1972 to 1979. As Assistant to the Vice-
President of Academic Affairs from 1969 to 1970, he helped
initiate sabbatical leave and tenure policies. He retired from
Emporia State University in 1985.

As a naturalist/educator, Robert Clarke taught several areas
of biology for more than 30 years, published over 50 works on
herpetology, established CPR training programs in Emporia,
was instrumental in starting the Chickadee Check-Off Program
to assist non-game research in Kansas, was a frequent speaker
at colleges and universities as part of the American Institute of
Biological Scientists, and was the editor, editor emeritus, and
one of the creators of the Kansas School Naturalist. As an
artist/naturalist, he was ranked in the top ten of Kansas wildlife
artists. He designed and illustrated numerous association con-
ference covers and illustrated several covers of the Kansas School
Naturalist. He developed and illustrated over 100 cartoon-like
panels entitled “Something Wild” that appeared in over 25
Kansas newspapers.

Dr. Clarke held the office of President for the following
organizations: Southwest Association of Naturalists (1971),
Kansas Herpetological Society (1972), and Kansas Academy of
Science (1981). He was co-founder of the Kansas Conservation
Forum and held over 20 professional memberships. Dr. Clarke
received the following awards: The Robert L. Packard

Outstanding Educator Award by the Southwestern Association
of Naturalists (1989), Kansas Wildlife Federation Conservation
Communicator Award (1991), The Governor’s Kansas
Conservationist of the Year Award (1982). He was a
Distinguished Alumnus in 1991 from Emporia State
University, Emeritus Professor (1986), and Xi Phi Outstanding
Graduate Student in Biology from the University of Oklahoma
(1961). In his primary profession of herpetology, the pinnacle
of his long and productive career was being invested as a
Distinguished Life Member of the Kansas Herpetological
Society.

Robert is survived by a daughter, Linda Clarke (Emporia),
son, John Clarke (Wichita), and four granddaughters, Jessica,
Lacy, Tara, and Kristi Clarke (Wichita). His wife, Elaine pre-
ceded him in death. He loved his family, lizards and nature, his
art and friends, his Model A, making jokes, and laughter. His
smile and Virginia accent will be missed.

Modified from an obituary published in 
the Topeka Capital-Journal on 4 April 2008

126 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2  •  JUNE 2008 OBITUARY

O B I T U A R Y

Robert F. Clarke 
(1919–2008)

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