Forrest G. Clark

Forrest G. Clark was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 1989.

Born in Hemlock, W.Va., Clark was an all-state football player at Buckhannon High School and graduated in 1925. He continued his education at Alderson-Broaddus College, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. Before transferring to West Virginia University, he taught and coached at Adolf High School in Upshur County. At WVU, he played baseball for the Mountaineers and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the College of Education in 1930, with teaching fields in physical education and social studies.

Clark began graduate work at Michigan State University in 1931 and pursued additional studies at Northwestern University in 1934. He completed his Master of Science in physical education at Columbia Teachers College in 1938. His early teaching and coaching career included positions at Parsons and Mannington high schools, the latter spanning eleven years and covering multiple sports. He gained statewide and national recognition during his tenure at Parkersburg High School, where he led football and basketball programs and taught health and physical education. In the early 1960s, he was appointed the first supervisor of health and physical education for Wood County.

Following his retirement from Wood County Schools, Clark accepted a public relations role at Alderson-Broaddus College. He retired from education a second time in 1973 to focus on farming in Harrison and Taylor counties.

Throughout his career, Clark published extensively in professional journals and held numerous elected and appointed leadership positions at the state, district, and national levels. In 1978, he received the Ray O. Duncan Award—the highest honor presented by the West Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance—in recognition of his contributions to the field.