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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Joe Louis Clark, the baseball bat and bullhorn-wielding principal whose unwavering dedication to his college students and uncompromising disciplinary strategies impressed the 1989 movie “Lean on Me,” died at his Florida dwelling on Tuesday after an extended battle with an unspecified sickness, his household mentioned in assertion. He was 82.
Born in Rochelle, Georgia, on Could 8, 1938, Clark’s household moved north to Newark, New Jersey, when he was 6 years outdated. After graduating from Newark Central Excessive College, Clark acquired his bachelor’s diploma from William Paterson Faculty (now William Paterson College), a grasp’s diploma from Seton Corridor College, and an honorary doctorate from the U.S. Sports activities Academy. Clark additionally served as a U.S. Military Reserve sergeant and a drill teacher.
Clark began instructing at a Paterson grade college in Essex County, N.J., earlier than changing into principal of PS 6 Grammar College.
He was later employed as principal of the crime and drug-ridden Eastside Excessive College. In in the future, he expelled 300 college students for preventing, vandalism, abusing academics and drug possession, and lifted the expectations of those that remained, frequently difficult them to carry out higher. Roaming the hallways with a bullhorn and a baseball bat, Clark’s unorthodox strategies gained him each admirers and critics nationwide. President Ronald Reagan supplied Clark a White Home coverage advisor place after his success at the highschool.
Morgan Freeman starred as Clark within the 1989 movie “Lean on Me” that was loosely based mostly on Clark’s tenure at Eastside.
After he retired from Eastside in 1989, Clark labored for six years because the director of Essex County Detention Home, a juvenile detention middle in Newark. He additionally wrote “Laying Down the Legislation: Joe Clark’s Technique for Saving Our Faculties,” detailing his strategies for turning round Eastside Excessive.
He retired to Gainesville, Florida.
Clark is survived by his youngsters, Joetta, Hazel and JJ, and grandchildren, Talitha, Jorell and Hazel. His spouse, Gloria, preceded him in loss of life.
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