MM2C, US Navy Marcia Corinne “Corky” Clark

Marcia Corinne “Corky” Clark served her country as a member of the Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES) during World War II. ¹

Clark was born on September 28, 1923, in Ottawa LaSalle, Illinois. At Yorkville High School in Illinois, Clark participated in the Girl’s Athletic Club, the Girl’s Tumbling Club, the Girl’s Glee Club, and the Girl’s Quintet. ² The quote she chose for her high school yearbook is, “Be gone, dull care. Thou and I will never agree.” ² She graduated in 1941. ²

After World War II, Clark played baseball in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, joining the Peoria Redwings early in the 1949 season. ^{2, 3} The league was in existence from 1943 to 1954 and was the inspiration for the film A League of Their Own. ⁴ “Corky,” as she was known, was an infielder/outfielder and a right-handed hitter. ³ After playing in the league, she returned to Chicago to play softball. 

Clark earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State, a Master of Science from Columbia University, and a P.E.D. from Indiana University. ³ She was chair of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, then Associate Dean of the College of Education until her retirement after 20 years of service. ³ Clark was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Hall of Fame in 1991 for significant contributions to the athletics department. ^{3, 5} In 2003, the University dedicated a permanent display honoring her year in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. ³ Clark is also part of a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, that honors women who were part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. ³

 Following retirement, Clark moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. ³ A golfer since childhood, Corky was involved in women’s amateur golf in New Mexico. The Corky Clark Junior Golf Foundation was established in 1998 in Clark’s honor. ⁶ Each year, the Albuquerque Women’s Golf Championship recognizes Clark’s contribution to golf by presenting the tournament winner with the Corky Clark Cup.  ^{1, 2}