James Clark, former music teacher, dies

  GULF HIGH SCHOOL, May 19, 2001 - James F. Clark, a former music teacher at Gulf High School and an alumnus of the school, died at home on March 30, 2001.

Mr. Clark was born in New Port Richey in 1926 and graduated from Gulf in 1943. He taught at Gulf from 1950 to 1956. His four children all graduated from Gulf. His father, James W. Clark Jr., was formerly the Mayor of New Port Richey.

His first teaching position was as music director at Gulf High School, which he recalled had about 300 students in grades 7 to 12. He directed the band and chorus from 1950 to 1956.

At the end of the 1955-1956 school year, the Gulf principal decided not to reappoint three popular teachers for the following year. Clark was among the three. According to contemporary newspaper accounts, the student population staged a strike to protest the decision, boycotting classes and spending the day in the bleachers of the football stadium instead. About 35 students drove to Dade City to speak to county school officials. Mr. Clark transferred to Tarpon Springs Junior High School the following year.